Koowattanasuchat S.Ngernpimai S.Matulakul P.Thonghlueng J.Phanchai W.Chompoosor A.Panitanarak U.Wanna Y.Intharah T.Chootawiriyasakul K.Anata P.Chaimnee P.Thanan R.Sakonsinsiri C.Puangmali T.Mahidol University2023-05-192023-05-192023-01-05RSC Advances Vol.13 No.2 (2023) , 1301-1311https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/81721DNA methylation occurs when a methyl group is added to a cytosine (C) residue's fifth carbon atom, forming 5-methylcytosine (5-mC). Cancer genomes have a distinct methylation landscape (Methylscape), which could be used as a universal cancer biomarker. This study developed a simple, low-cost, and straightforward Methylscape sensing platform using cysteamine-decorated gold nanoparticles (Cyst/AuNPs), in which the sensing principle is based on methylation-dependent DNA solvation. Normal and cancer DNAs have distinct methylation profiles; thus, they can be distinguished by observing the dispersion of Cyst/AuNPs adsorbed on these DNA aggregates in MgCl2 solution. After optimising the MgCl2, Cyst/AuNPs, DNA concentration, and incubation time, the optimised conditions were used for leukemia screening, by comparing the relative absorbance (ΔA650/525). Following the DNA extraction from actual blood samples, this sensor demonstrated effective leukemia screening in 15 minutes with high sensitivity, achieving 95.3% accuracy based on the measurement by an optical spectrophotometer. To further develop for practical realisation, a smartphone assisted by machine learning was used to screen cancer patients, achieving 90.0% accuracy in leukemia screening. This sensing platform can be applied not only for leukemia screening but also for other cancers associated with epigenetic modification.Chemical EngineeringArticleSCOPUS10.1039/d2ra05725e2-s2.0-8514609528820462069