<br/>Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to multidrug resistance, tumor recurrence and metastasis, making them prime therapeutic targets. Their ability to differentiate and lose stem cell properties makes them challenging to study. Currently, there is no simple assay that can capture and trace the dynamic phenotypic changes on the CSC surface. Here, we report rapid discrimination of breast CSCs from non-CSCs using a nanoparticle-fluorescent-protein based sensor array. This nanosensor uses a hypothesis-free, signature-based approach to identify complex bioanalytes, such as phenotypes of CSCs. Through selective interactions with the target analyte, a unique fluorescence response signature was generated and further used for rapid discrimination of CSCs from non-CSCs, as well CSCs that had differentiated <i>in vitro</i> in two breast cancer models. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of using the nanosensor to phenotype CSCs and monitor their fate. Furthermore, this approach provides a novel area for therapeutic interventions against these challenging targets.

Rapid phenotyping of cancer stem cells using multichannel nanosensor arrays

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.