Purpose: This paper aims to construct a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) biosensor based on functionalized Au-Si nanocone arrays (Au-SiNCA) using a dual signal amplification strategy (SDA-CHA) to evaluate telomerase activity during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in laryngeal carcinoma (LC).
Methods: A SERS biosensor based on functionalized Au-SiNCA was designed with an integrated dual-signal amplification strategy to achieve ultrasensitive detection of telomerase activity during EMT in LC patients.
Results: Labeled probes (Au-AgNRs@4-MBA@H₁) and capture substrates (Au-SiNCA@H₂) were prepared by modifying hairpin DNA and Raman signal molecules. Using this scheme, telomerase activity in peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNC) could be successfully detected with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 10^{− 6} IU/mL. In addition, biological experiments using BLM treatment of TU686 effectively mimicked the EMT process. The results of this scheme were highly consistent with the ELISA scheme, confirming its accuracy.
Conclusion: This scheme provides a reproducible, selective, and ultrasensitive assay for telomerase activity, which is expected to be a potential tool for the early screening of LC in future clinical applications.
Keywords: surface-enhanced Raman scattering, telomerase, laryngeal carcinoma, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Au-SiNCA