Fiber-based early diagnosis of venous thromboembolic disease by label-free D-dimer detection

• Published in: Biosensors and bioelectronics. X Vol. 2; p. 100026
• Main Authors: Zubiate, Pablo, Urrutia, Aitor, Zamarreño, Carlos R., Egea-Urra, Josune, Fernández-Irigoyen, Joaquín, Giannetti, Ambra, Baldini, Francesco, Díaz, Silvia, Matias, Ignacio R., Arregui, Francisco J., Santamaría, Enrique, Chiavaioli, Francesco, Del Villar, Ignacio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: D-dimer; Lossy mode resonance; Nanocoated fiber; Optical biosensor; Venous thromboembolism; D-dimer; Lossy mode resonance; Optical biosensor; Nanocoated fiber; Venous thromboembolism
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosx.2019.100026
• ISSN: 2590-1370

D-dimer is a useful diagnostic biomarker for deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, collectively referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE). The ability to detect in real-time the amount of D-dimer with a fast and reliable method is a key step to anticipate the appearance of these diseases. Here, the results of a highly specific and sensitive biosensor for the detection of D-dimer based on lossy mode resonance in fiber optics are presented. The unique features of specialty fibers in light management integrated with microfluidics allow detecting D-dimer in human serum with a detection limit of 100 ng/mL, a value 5-fold below the clinical cutoff value. Comparison of the results achieved with mass-spectrometry-based proteomics, which allows for the identification of beta- and gamma-chains of fibrinogen, demonstrates the ability of our platform to specifically (>90%) recognize D-dimer. Therefore, this technology potentially represents a paradigm shift in the development of a simple, high-specificity and label-free biosensing platform, which can be applied to speed up diagnostic healthcare processes of venous thromboembolism toward an early diagnostic and personalized treatment system. •A lossy mode resonance optical fiber biosensor for detection of D-dimer is presented.•The sensor detects 5-fold below the clinical cutoff value of venous thromboembolism in human serum.•The sensor is label-free and operates in real time.•Reliability is confirmed with mass-spectrometry-based proteomics (>90%).