Synergistic plasmonic coupling in multidimensional noble metal/MXene heterostructures for simultaneous SERS profiling of multiple inflammatory cytokines
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The diagnostic value of combined interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) detection for evaluating plaque instability and stratifying the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events is underscored by clinical evidence. However, the practical application of this approach is hindered by the low abundance of these cytokines in biological fluids and the presence of interfering substances. Herein, the multidimensional plasmonic heterostructure based on MXene was synthesized and integrated into surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nano-sensing platform for multiplexed quantification of inflammatory cytokines. In this assay, the simultaneous capture of a target cytokine IL-1β by MXene@Ag@Ab 1 and AuNPs@Ab 2 @4-MBA leads to the formation of a MXene@Ag@Au sandwich structure, which exhibits high selectivity and significantly enhances the SERS signal of the reporter molecule 4‑mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA). The quantification of IL-1β is achieved by monitoring the signal intensity variation of the 4-MBA. Our SERS platform demonstrates outstanding specificity, excellent stability, remarkable reproducibility, and ultrahigh sensitivity, with limits of detection (LODs) reaching 0.1 pg/mL, 0.14 pg/mL, and 0.2 pg/mL for IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ, respectively. The holds promise for the rapid and simultaneous quantification of diverse inflammatory cytokines in real samples and may provide a powerful tool for the early diagnosis of cytokine-related cardiovascular disorders.
Source: Research Square
Institutions: Nantong University, Shenzhen University
Language: English
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214731004