Surface Plasmon Resonance, a Novel Technique for Sensing Cancer Biomarker: Folate Receptor and Nanoparticles Interface.

Despite advances in healthcare technology, the early detection biomarker and treatment remain one of the biggest challenges in humanity. Thus, developing a biosensor for timely diagnosis is well-justified to improve the prospect of remission of cancer patients. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a biosensor, is of interest that monitors many cancer biomarkers with high sensitivity and rapidity. For various cancers, nanoparticle (NP)-based targeted drug/gene delivery has been widely employed as it directs mainly the receptors expressed specifically on the cell membrane of the cancer cell. Folate Receptor 1 (FOLR1) or FOLRα, predominantly expressed on epithelial cells, remains a principal target for drug discovery in several cancers, including prostate or ovarian. Therefore, conjugation of folic acid to the NPs precisely targeting the biomarkers on the tumor cells allows the detection and helps in the treatment of various cancers. In the present study, we discuss the folate receptor as of diagnostic interest and focus on the use of the targeted planetary ball milled nanoparticles (PBM-NPs) and its formulation, emphasizing the approach using sensor chips in the Open SPR system for cancer biomarker detection.