Rapid and sensitive detection of the activity of ADAM17 using a graphene oxide-based fluorescence sensor.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) has become a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for the early detection and treatment of human cancers. In this work, by covalently attaching fluorescently labeled ADAM17 substrate peptide (Pep-FAM) molecules to carboxylated graphene oxide (cGO) and monitoring the cleavage of the peptide substrate by ADAM17, we developed a cGO-Pep-FAM fluorescence sensor for the rapid, sensitive and accurate detection of ADAM17. The sensor was highly sensitive with a detection limit of 17.5 picomolar. Furthermore, the sensor was selective: structure similar proteases such as ADAM9 and MMP-9 would not interfere with ADAM17 detection. In addition, simulated serum samples were successfully analyzed. Our developed cGO-Pep-FAM sensing strategy should find useful applications in disease diagnosis and drug screening.