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Unlocking interstitial fluid for acute coronary syndrome diagnosis: ultrasensitive troponin I detection using imprinted polymer nanoparticles

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Joshua Saczek, Amy Dann, Professor Azfar ZamanORCiD, Professor Ioakim SpyridopoulosORCiD, Professor Katarina NovakovicORCiD, Professor Marloes Peeters, Dr Jake McClementsORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026. This study presents the first detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a vital biomarker for acute coronary syndrome diagnosis (ACS), in human interstitial fluid (ISF) collected via electroporation. Measurements were performed using molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles as synthetic recognition elements and a heat-transfer method within a microfluidic system, yielding results within 15–20 min. This approach demonstrated reliable cTnI quantification across a wide, physiologically relevant concentration range of 0.1 to 1000 pg mL−1 in spiked ISF, achieving an excellent detection limit of 1.85 ± 0.32 pg mL−1. Comparisons with conventional patient sample fluids were conducted by repeating experiments with cTnI-spiked plasma and serum, which exhibited similar detection limits of 1.78 ± 0.28 and 1.80 ± 0.22 pg mL−1, respectively. The developed sensor offers a rapid, highly sensitive, non-invasive, and cost-effective platform for point-of-care ACS diagnosis in ISF, potentially improving patient outcomes and easing healthcare burdens.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Saczek J, Dann A, Crapnell RD, Banks CE, Johnson RE, Canfarotta F, Czulak J, Thomson A, Zaman A, Spyridopoulos I, Novakovic K, Peeters M, McClements J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nanoscale Horizons

Year: 2026

Volume: 11

Issue: 3

Pages: 803-816

Online publication date: 17/12/2025

Acceptance date: 26/11/2025

Date deposited: 12/01/2026

ISSN (print): 2055-6756

ISSN (electronic): 2055-6764

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nh00441a

DOI: 10.1039/d5nh00441a

Data Access Statement: The data supporting this article have been included as part of the supplementary information (SI). Supplementary information is available. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nh00441a. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Notes: Author list updated. See correction: https://doi.org/10.1039/d6nh90009g

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