Aggregation-induced signal amplification strategy based on peptide self-assembly for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of melanoma biomarker.

The detection of melanoma circulating biomarker in liquid biopsies is current under evaluation for being potentially utilized for earlier cancer diagnosis and its metastasis. Herein, we developed a non-invasive electrochemical approach for ultrasensitive detection of the S100B, serving as a potential promising blood circulating biomarker of melanoma, based on an aggregation-induced signal amplification (AISA) strategy via in-situ peptide self-assembly. The fundamental principle of this assay is that the designed amphiphilic peptides (C-Pep-Fc), fulfilling multiple functions, feature both a recognition region for specific binding to S100B and an aggregation (self-assembly) region for the formation of peptide nanomicelles under mild conditions.

Multifunctional nanocomposite based on halloysite nanotubes for efficient luminescent bioimaging and magnetic resonance imaging.

A novel multifunctional halloysite nanotube (HNT)-based FeO@HNT-polyethyleneimine-Tip-Eu(dibenzoylmethane) nanocomposite (Fe-HNT-Eu NC) with both photoluminescent and magnetic properties was fabricated by a simple one-step hydrothermal process combined with the coupling grafting method, which exhibited high suspension stability and excellent photophysical behavior. The as-prepared multifunctional Fe-HNT-Eu NC was characterized using various techniques. The results of cell viability assay, cell morphological observation, and in vivo toxicity assay indicated that the NC exhibited excellent biocompatibility over the studied concentration range, suggesting that the obtained Fe-HNT-Eu NC was a suitable material for bioimaging and biological applications in human hepatic adenocarcinoma cells.