Zhaofeng Luo

Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection and Accurate Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest mortality rate among malignant tumors, primarily because it is difficult to diagnose early. Exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle rich in parental information, have garnered significant attention in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment. They play an important regulatory role in the occurrence, development, and metastasis of OC. Consequently, exosomes have emerged as noninvasive biomarkers for early cancer detection. Therefore, identifying cancer-derived exosomes may offer a novel biomarker for the early detection of OC. In this study, we developed a metal-organic frameworks assembled "double hook"-type aptamer electrochemical sensor, which enables accurate early diagnosis of OC. Under optimal experimental conditions, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technology demonstrated a good linear relationship within the concentration range of 31-3.1 × 10

In Vivo SELEX: A Strategy for Identifying Ovarian Cancer-Specific Aptamers

Ovarian cancer is a significant and life-threatening malignancy among women worldwide. Selective tumor targeting by molecular agents is essential for the development of effective therapeutics and diagnostics. Recognizing the disparities between in vivo and in vitro environments, we have implemented an in vivo SELEX strategy to identify DNA aptamers capable of specifically localizing to ovarian tumors in situ. Aptamer L1 has emerged as a promising candidate with a high binding affinity to Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP3), a tumor-promoting protein overexpressed in ovarian cancer. Notably, aptamer L1 effectively downregulates IGFBP3 expression and suppresses ovarian cancer cell proliferation. The unique molecular characteristics of aptamer L1 underscore its potential as a theranostic agent for ovarian cancer.