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Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a highly sensitive system that is used as a biosensor for biomolecules and cells. Detection and characterization of cancer cells in circulation or biopsy samples is of crucial importance for cancer diagnosis. Here, we introduce approaches for breast cancer cell detection via their surface molecules. The sensor system is based on preliminary coating of QCM chip with polymeric nanoparticles to increase the surface area and allow for the attachment of proteins to the chip surface. This is followed by the attachment of a specific protein in order to functionalize the chip. Breast cancer cells and fibroblast cells as control are cultured and applied to this chip. The functionalized QCM system can detect breast cancer cells with high affinity and selectivity. Here, we present the preparation methods of QCM-based sensors for selective detection of MDA MB 231 cancer cells. Selectivity of QCM-based sensor is carried out in the presence of L929 mouse fibroblast cells.

Nucleic acid aptamers are an emerging class of artificial ligands and have recently gained attention in several areas. Here we report the design of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) aptasensor for highly sensitive and selective sensing of human activated protein C (APC). First, DNA aptamer (DNA-Apt) specific for APC is complexed with N-methacryloyl-L-cysteine (MAC) monomer. Then, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and cyanamide are mixed with the DNA-Apt/MAC complex. The SPR aptasensor is characterized by atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements. Selectivity of SPR aptasensor is carried out in the presence of myoglobin (Myb), hemoglobin (Hb), and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values are 1.5 ng mL

Molecularly imprinted polymers can be used for the selective capture of a target molecule from complex medium. Cryogels novel matrices, which characterized by their supermacropores that makes their use advantageous when studying with biological samples. By combining high selectivity of the molecular imprinting approach with using cryogel as a base polymer, in this protocol, preparation of the albumin-imprinted cryogels is described. This material is a useful candidate for the selective albumin depletion from the human serum sample prior to the detailed proteomic analysis.