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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.07.18.665501

Cell-based multisensor array for detecting cancer biomarkers in human urine

Takeuchi, S.·Mimura, H.·Osaki, T.·Oda, H.·Kodama, Y.·Sasaoka, N.·Takahashi, Y.
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Abstract

Detecting volatile urinary biomarkers offers a compelling strategy for noninvasive diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. Biohybrid sensors employing sensor cells that express olfactory receptors--with finely tuned molecular recognition capabilities--are garnering increasing attention. However, their application to physiological samples remains challenging due to variability in sensor cell responsiveness and limited signal intensity. Here, we report a volatile biomarker detection platform based on a multisensor array in which insect olfactory receptor- expressing cells are encapsulated in hydrogel and housed within microwells featuring vertical slits. This structural design enables dense three-dimensional cell immobilization and rapid, uniform exposure to target molecules, enhancing the sensitivity of fluorescence responses and minimizing signal variability. Multiple types of sensor cells on a single array enabled the selective and simultaneous detection of potential cancer-related target molecules--acetophenone, phenol, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. Furthermore, through hexane extraction combined with gas-phase delivery, we reliably detected acetophenone introduced into human urine at micromolar concentrations. This platform offers a compact, reproducible, and scalable solution for volatile biomarker detection using cell-based sensors.

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Takeuchi, S., Mimura, H., Osaki, T., Oda, H., Kodama, Y., Sasaoka, N., Takahashi, Y.. 2025-07-22. Cell-based multisensor array for detecting cancer biomarkers in human urine. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.18.665501

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