A Multicolor Cocktail for Breast Cancer Multiplex Phenotype Targeting and Diagnosis Using Bioorthogonal SERS Nanoprobes

Early precise diagnosis of cancers is crucial to realize more effective therapeutic interventions with minimal toxic effects. Cancer phenotypes may also alter greatly among patients and within individuals over the therapeutic process. The identification and characterization of specific biomarkers expressed on tumor cells are in high demand for diagnosis and treatment, but they are still a challenge. Herein, we designed three new bioorthogonal surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoprobes and successfully applied the cocktail of them for MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer multiplex phenotype detection. The SERS nanoprobes containing Raman reporters with diynl, azide, or cyano moieties demonstrated apparent Raman shift peaks in 2205, 2120, and 2230 cm–1, respectively, in the biologically Raman-silent region. Three target ligands, including oligonucleotide aptamer (AS1411), arginine-glycine-aspatic acid (RGD) peptide, and homing cell adhesion molecule antibody (anti-CD44), were separately conjugated to...