Rapid detection of cancer DNA in human blood using cysteamine-capped AuNPs and a machine learning-enabled smartphone

Sep 24, 2026

Study presents a simple, low-cost sensing platform for cancer DNA by targeting the methylation landscape (Methylscape). The method uses cysteamine-decorated gold nanoparticles (Cyst/AuNPs) whose dispersion on DNA aggregates in MgCl2 solution depends on methylation status, enabling discrimination between normal and cancer DNAs. After optimizing MgCl2, Cyst/AuNPs, DNA concentration, and incubation time, the platform achieved leukemia screening in 15 minutes with 95.3% accuracy using optical spectrophotometry. For practical realization, a machine-learning-assisted smartphone further screened cancer patients with 90.0% accuracy, and the platform is extendable to other epigenetically modified cancers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

DNA methylation and Methylscape as cancer biomarkers

Existing quantification methods and their limitations

RSC Advances PAPER Cite this: RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 1301 Received 11th September 2022 Accepted 28th November 2022 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra05725e[rsc.li/rsc-advances](rsc.li/rsc-advances) Rapid detection of cancer DNA in human blood using cysteamine-capped AuNPs and a machine learning-enabled smartphone† Sireemas Koowattanasuchat,a Sawinee Ngernpimai,a Piyaporn Matulakul,a Janpen Thonghlueng,a Witthawat Phanchai,a Apiwat Chompoosor,b Uthumporn Panitanarak,c Yupaporn Wanna,d Thanapong Intharah, d Kanokon Chootawiriyasakul,e Pimjai Anata,f Prajuab Chaimnee,f Raynoo Thanan,g Chadamas Sakonsinsiri g and Theerapong Puangmali *a DNA methylation occurs when a methyl group is added to a cytosine (C) residue's ﬁfth carbon atom, forming 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) . Cancer genomes have a distinct methylation landscape (Methylscape), which could be used as a universal cancer biomarker. This study developed a simple, low-cost, and straightforward Methylscape sensing platform using cysteamine-decorated gold nanoparticles (Cyst/ AuNPs), in which the sensing principle is based on methylation-dependent DNA solvation. Normal and cancer DNAs have distinct methylation proﬁles; thus, they can be distinguished by observing the dispersion of Cyst/AuNPs adsorbed on these DNA aggregates in MgCl2 solution. After optimising the MgCl2, Cyst/AuNPs, DNA concentration, and incubation time, the optimised conditions were used for leukemia screening, by comparing the relative absorbance (DA650/525) . Following the DNA extraction from actual blood samples, this sensor demonstrated eﬀective leukemia screening in 15 minutes with high sensitivity, achieving 95 .3% accuracy based on the measurement by an optical spectrophotometer. To further develop for practical realisation, a smartphone assisted by machine learning was used to screen cancer patients, achieving 90 . 0% accuracy in leukemia screening. This sensing platform can be applied not only for leukemia screening but also for other cancers associated with epigenetic modiﬁcation. 1 Introduction DNA methylation is an epigenetic modi􀀁cation involving the addition of a methyl group to the 􀀁􀀁h carbon atom of the cytosine (C) residue to form 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) at CpG sites, the position where the cytosine residue is preceded by aDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. E-mail: [theerapong@kku.ac.th](theerapong@kku.ac.th) bDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand cDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand dDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand eDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand fMolecular Diagnosis Unit, Central Laboratory, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand gDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Description of data analysis, additional experimental method and results, and clinical information of representative DNA samples. See DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ra05725e](https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ra05725e) guanine (G) bases. This biological process plays a signi􀀁cant role in genomic imprinting and gene silencing, which are associated with the regulation of gene expression and hereditary characteristics.1,2 The pattern and level of the cytosine methylation that occurs across the entire genome de􀀁ne the epigenetic state of the cell, developing to certain genetic diseases and tumours, that have been broadly reported in various cancers, including leukemia, stomach, breast, lung, and colorectal cancer.2–6 The epigenetic reprogramming in these cancer genomes exhibits a distinct methylation landscape (Methylscape), a unique footprint for cancer genomes, in speci􀀁c regions

FAQs

What cancer biomarker does the study focus on?

The study focuses on the DNA methylation landscape (Methylscape), derived from methylation patterns across cancer genomes.

How does the cysteamine-capped AuNP sensing work?

Cysteamine-decorated gold nanoparticles adsorbed on DNA aggregates show different dispersion behavior in MgCl2 based on methylation-dependent DNA solvation, allowing discrimination between normal and cancer DNAs.

How long does the leukemia screening take and what accuracy was achieved?

Leukemia screening from extracted blood DNA was completed in 15 minutes with 95.3% accuracy measured by optical spectrophotometry.

Sep 24, 2026

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