A dual-modal aptasensor based on a multifunctional acridone derivate for exosomes detection

Highlights: • The BAA possesses fluorescence, visible-light-induced oxidase mimic activity simultaneously. • BAA is acted as fluorescent signal probe for exosomes visualization. • BAA is acted as multifunctional signal probe to develop dual-modal aptasensor for exosomes determination. Exosomes are promising biomarkers for cancer screening, but the development of a robust approach that can sensitively and accurately detect exosomes remains challenging. In the present study, an aptasensor based on the multifunctional signal probe 10-benzyl-2-amino-acridone (BAA) was developed for the colorimetric and photoelectrochemical detection and quantitation of exosomes. Exosomes are captured by cholesterol DNA anchor-modified magnetic beads (MBs) through hydrophobic interactions. This capture process can be monitored under a confocal fluorescence microscope using BAA as the fluorescent signal probe. The aptamer modified copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) then bind to mucin 1 (MUC1) on the surface of the exosomes to form a sandwich structure (MBs-Exo-CuO NPs). Finally, the MBs-Exo-CuO NPs are dissolved in nitric acid to generate Cu²⁺, which inhibits the visible-light-induced oxidase mimic activity and photoelectrochemical activity of BAA simultaneously. The changes in absorbance and photocurrent intensities are directly proportional to the concentration of exosomes. In this dual-modal aptasensor, the colorimetric assay can achieve rapid screening and identification, which is especially useful for point-of-care testing. The UV–vis absorbance and photocurrent assays then provide quantitative information, with a limit of detection of 1.09 × 10³ particles μL⁻¹ and 1.38 × 10³ particles μL⁻¹, respectively. The proposed aptasensor thus performs dual-modal detection and quantitation of exosomes. This aptasensor provides a much-needed toolset for exploring the biological roles of exosomes in specific diseases, particularly in the clinical setting.