Affiliation:
1. Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems National Research Council Via Pietro Castellino 111 Napoli 80131 Italy
2. Institute of Nanotechnology National Research Council c/o Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni Lecce 73100 Italy
3. Department of Engineering Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope Centro Direzionale di Napoli, Isola C4 Naples 80143 Italy
4. Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Rd Berkeley CA 94720 USA
Abstract
AbstractThe integration of advanced materials and photonic nanostructures can lead to enhanced biodetection capabilities, crucial in clinical scenarios and point‐of‐care diagnostics, where simplified strategies are essential. Herein, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) photonic nanostructure is demonstrated, which selectively binding to transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β), in which the sensing transduction is enhanced by bound states in the continuum (BICs). The MIP operating as a synthetic antibody matrix and coupled with BIC resonance, enhances the optical response to TGF‐β at imprinted sites, leading to an augmented detection capability, thoroughly evaluated through spectral shift and optical lever analogue readout. The validation underscores the MIP‐BIC sensor capability to detect TGF‐β in spiked saliva, achieving a limit of detection of 10 fM and a resolution of 0.5 pM at physiological concentrations, with a precision of two orders of magnitude above discrimination threshold in patients. The MIP tailored selectivity is highlighted by an imprinting factor of 52, showcasing the sensor resistance to interference from other analytes. The MIP‐BIC sensor architecture streamlines the detection process eliminating the need for complex sandwich immunoassays and demonstrates the potential for high‐precision quantification. This positions the system as a robust tool for biomarker detection, especially in real‐world diagnostic scenarios.