MWCNT-Fe3O4-based immuno-PCR for the early screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most prevalent form of malignancy in southeast China and its development is meticulously related to EBV pathogenesis. The current screening techniques are unsatisfactory in terms of the sensitivity and hence most of the NPC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Herein, we report the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) combined with iron oxide nanoparticles as a sensing surface for the early screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by immuno-PCR (iPCR). The MWCNT-Fe3O4 nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The characterization techniques had confirmed the successful formation of MWCNT-Fe3O4 nanocomposites. The MWCNT-Fe3O4-based iPCR was effectively tested for the quantification of anti-EBV antibodies in human serum and the limit of detection (LOD) was compared with ELISA. The limit of detection by iPCR was valid until 1:10,000,000 fold dilution of NPC(+ve) human serum, whereas ELISA can detect the anti-EBV antibodies in human serum up to 1:100,000 fold dilution. The MWCNT-Fe3O4 offers an excellent surface area for the antigen-antibody binding and hence greater sensitivity was achieved.