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A miniaturized, DNA-FET biosensor-based microfluidic system for quantification of two breast cancer biomarkers

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Abstract

Breast cancer is among the frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide and is associated with a high mortality rate, especially when diagnosed late. Minimally invasive screening approaches based on an assessment of extracellular vesicle (EV)-encapsulating microRNA biomarkers have enabled earlier diagnosis and improved survival rates. Since field-effective transistors (FET) featuring complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology have been previously converted into highly sensitive biosensors, an integrated microfluidic system (IMS) was developed herein for quantifying concentrations of breast cancer biomarkers including microRNA-195 and microRNA-126. Following a (1) 4-h process in which 84% of the EVs were captured, (2) 20-min hybridization step in which 85 and 94% of the microRNA-195 and microRNA-126 were isolated, respectively, and (3) the DNA-FET biosensors could detect down to 84 and 75 aM concentrations of microRNA-195 and microRNA-126, respectively. The IMS automated the entire biomarker quantification process within 5 h, highlighting its potential as a sensitive platform for early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported financially by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan under MOST grants 107-2221-E-007-013-MY3 and 108-2314-B-007-002 to GBL. We are grateful to the National Chip Implementation Center of Taiwan for access to foundry services, and we thank Professors 1) Yu-Ling Wang for use of his laboratory facilities and 2) Michael S. Lu for valuable discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Chi-Chien Huang, Yi-Sin Chen & Gwo-Bin Lee

  2. Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Yu-Hsuan Kuo & Gwo-Bin Lee

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Po-Chiun Huang

  4. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Gwo-Bin Lee

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  1. Chi-Chien Huang
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  2. Yu-Hsuan Kuo
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Correspondence to Po-Chiun Huang or Gwo-Bin Lee.

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Huang, CC., Kuo, YH., Chen, YS. et al. A miniaturized, DNA-FET biosensor-based microfluidic system for quantification of two breast cancer biomarkers. Microfluid Nanofluid 25, 33 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-021-02437-8

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