A SERS Biosensor Based on Functionalized Au-SiNCA Integrated with a Dual Signal Amplification Strategy for Sensitive Detection of Telomerase Activity During EMT in Laryngeal Carcinoma

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 ( [email protected] @H 1 ) and capture substrates ( [email protected] 2 ) 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