Label-Free and Protein G-Enhanced Optical Fiber Biosensor for Detection of ALDH1A1 Cancer Biomarker
Yegizbay Z. Fatima M. Bekmurzayeva A. Ashikbayeva Z. Tosi D. Blanc W.
October 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Fibers
2025#13Issue 10
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) has emerged as a significant biomarker associated with tumor progression, chemoresistance, and poor prognosis in various cancers, including breast, lung, prostate, and lymphoma. Current diagnostic methods for ALDH1A1, such as flow cytometry and ELISA, are limited by long detection times, the need for labeling, and a reduced sensitivity in complex biological matrices. This study presents a novel optical fiber biosensor based on magnesium silicate nanoparticle-doped fibers for the label-free detection of ALDH1A1. The biosensor design incorporated protein G for enhanced antibody orientation and binding efficiency and anti-ALDH1A1 antibodies for specific recognition. Several sensor configurations were fabricated using a semi-distributed interferometer (SDI) format, and their performances were evaluated across a wide concentration range (10 fM–100 nM) in both phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS). Our findings demonstrated that the inclusion of protein G significantly improved sensor sensitivity and reproducibility, achieving a limit of detection (LoD) of 172 fM in PBS. The sensor also maintained a positive response trend in FBS, indicating its potential applicability in clinically relevant samples. This work introduces the first reported optical fiber biosensor for soluble ALDH1A1 detection, offering a rapid, label-free, and highly sensitive approach suitable for future use in cancer diagnostics.
aldehyde dehydrogenase , ALDH1A1 , cancer diagnostics , optical biosensor , semi-distributed interferometer
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioinstruments, Center for Life Sciences, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
CNRS UMR7010, INPHYNI, Université Cȏte d’Azur, 17 rue Julien Lauprêtre, Nice, 06200, France
Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioinstruments
Department of Biology
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Department of Chemistry
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
CNRS UMR7010
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026