FRET-based fiber-optic fluorescent biosensor for the detection of alpha-fetoprotein

This article reports the development of a novel sensor based on fiber-optic fluorescence biosensing technology for detecting alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a key biomarker for liver cancer screening. The sensor utilizes the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect and constructs a fluorescence immunoassay system on the surface of the optical fiber, using the sandwich method with dual antibodies. This approach leverages the immune response to quench the fluorescent microspheres with the Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). By precisely quantifying the difference in light intensity before and after quenching, it establishes a direct correlation between the reduced light intensity and AFP concentration. The sensor boasts a broad detection range of 10–10,000 ng/mL and offers advantages such as compact size, affordability, and ease of operation, thus presenting a promising new method for AFP detection. Extensive experimental tests have been conducted to confirm the sensor's performance, demonstrating its high sensitivity and reliability under laboratory conditions. This research provides an innovative tool and method for liver cancer-related research and clinical applications, which is expected to promote further development in the field of liver cancer diagnosis.