Label-free sensitive detection of MUC1 using a liquid crystal based-system

ABSTRACT

This study reports the development of a novel label-free aptasensor which uses the orientation properties of nematic liquid crystals (LCs) to detect mucin 1 (MUC1) is developed. The sensor is made of immobilised amine-functionalised aptamers on the surface, with LCs serving as response elements. When MUC1 interacts with the immobilised aptamers, it forms a complex that disrupts the LC orientation, taking them from homeotropic to random alignment. This change in the orientation of LCs is easily observed as a shift in the optical LC image from dark to bright using a polarised light microscope. This sensing system is highly sensitive (detection limit of 5 fg mL⁻¹) and exhibits good specificity for detection of MUC1 without labelling or an additional amplification step.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystal (LC)
• 4-cyano-4ʹ-pentylbiphenyl (5CB)
• mucin 1 (MUC1)
• aptamer

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education under [Grant NRF- 2019R1A2C1003862].