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Detection of Circulating Cancer Cells Using Electrocatalytic Gold Nanoparticles

  1. Marisa Maltez-da Costa2,
  2. Alfredo de la Escosura-Muñiz2,
  3. Carme Nogués3,
  4. Lleonard Barrios3,
  5. Elena Ibáñez3,
  6. Arben Merkoçi1,*

Article first published online: 15 AUG 2012

DOI: 10.1002/smll.201201205

Issue

Small

Small

Volume 8, Issue 23, pages 3605–3612, December 7, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Maltez-da Costa, M., de la Escosura-Muñiz, A., Nogués, C., Barrios, L., Ibáñez, E. and Merkoçi, A. (2012), Detection of Circulating Cancer Cells Using Electrocatalytic Gold Nanoparticles. Small, 8: 3605–3612. doi: 10.1002/smll.201201205

Author Information

  1. 1

    ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis, Avançats and Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, CIN2 (ICN-CSIC), Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus de la UAB Bellaterra (Barcelona), 08193 Spain

  2. 2

    Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, CIN2 (ICN-CSIC), Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra (Barcelona), 08193 Spain

  3. 3

    Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB-Facultat de Biociències, Bellaterra (Barcelona), 08193 Spain

*ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis, Avançats and Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, CIN2 (ICN-CSIC), Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus de la UAB Bellaterra (Barcelona), 08193 Spain.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 DEC 2012
  2. Article first published online: 15 AUG 2012
  3. Manuscript Received: 31 MAY 2012

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Keywords:

  • cancer diagnosis;
  • hydrogen evolution reaction;
  • circulating cancer cells;
  • gold nanoparticles;
  • electrocatalytic properties

Abstract

A rapid cancer cell detection and quantification assay, based on the electrocatalytic properties of gold nanoparticles towards the hydrogen evolution reaction, is described. The selective labeling of cancer cells is performed in suspension, allowing a fast interaction between the gold nanoparticle labels and the target proteins expressed at the cell membrane. The subsequent electrochemical detection is accomplished with small volumes of sample and user-friendly equipment through a simple electrochemical method that generates a fast electrochemical response used for the quantification of nanoparticle-labeled cancer cells. The system establishes a selective cell-detection assay capable of detecting 4 × 103 cancer cells in suspension that can be extended to several other cells detection scenarios.

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