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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Othman AlmusaimiORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Cutaneous melanoma, responsible for 80% of skin cancer mortality, presents urgent diagnostic challenges due to insufficient early detection methods. Current clinical methods rely on invasive biopsies, while noninvasive approaches primarily serve as adjunctive decision-support tools rather than definitive diagnostics. Here, a peptide-based fluorescent biosensing system was developed for the sensitive and rapid detection of S100B, a key prognostic biomarker for melanoma. Our system employs a fluorescently labeled peptide beacon designed for Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based detection, achieving a subnanomolar detection limit (∼0.045 nM) and great selectivity in human serum samples. Peptide synthesis was performed using optimized solid-phase protocols, enabling precise sequence assembly, while the peptide sensor offers efficient detection, lower costs, and high specificity through tailored peptide–protein interactions. The biosensing probe employs complementary peptide nucleic acid (PNA) interactions to achieve proximity-induced fluorescence quenching in the absence of S100B, which reverses via structural rearrangement upon specific S100B binding for accurate quantification. Computational and experimental optimization of the synthetic process has enhanced binding efficiency, sensitivity, and response time–crucial parameters for melanoma-specific detection. By integrating advanced molecular design with optical biosensing, this mechanism aims to enhance the accuracy and accessibility of melanoma diagnostics, ultimately addressing healthcare disparities and improving patient outcomes.
Author(s): Chatzilakou E, Hu Y, Al Musaimi O, Valenzo O, Jiang N, Williams DR, Yetisen AK
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Bioconjugate Chemistry
Year: 2025
Volume: 36
Issue: 11
Pages: 2357-2369
Print publication date: 19/11/2025
Online publication date: 06/11/2025
Acceptance date: 30/10/2025
Date deposited: 28/11/2025
ISSN (print): 1043-1802
ISSN (electronic): 1520-4812
Publisher: American Chemical Society
URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5c00337
DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5c00337
Data Access Statement: The data supporting this article have been included as part of the Supporting Information. The Supporting Information is available free of charge at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5c00337
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