Cancer cell detection based on the interaction between an anticancer drug and cell membrane components.

Simple and general cancer cell detection methods are required in point-of-care diagnostics. Herein, the interaction between an anticancer drug, daunomycin, and cancer cell membrane components has been studied using an aptamer probe immobilized on a conducting polymer-gold nanoparticle composite film through electrochemical and fluorescence methods and applied to the quantitative detection of cancer cells. The developed method differentiates between cancerous and noncancerous cells effectively.