In-situ SERS readout strategy to improve the reliability of beta-galactosidase activity assay based on X-gal staining in shortening incubation times.

Shaofei Li, Yizhuang Cheng, Siyu Chen, Miao Qin, Pan Li, Liangbao Yang

Talanta 2021 Nov 01

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Beta-galactosidase (β-gal) activity is closed related with senescence cells and aging-associated diseases, however, the traditional readout of β-gal activity based on X-gal staining was limited to low sensitivity in short incubation times and false positives in long incubation times. Here, we expose the potential role of insoluble X-gal hydrolysates in causing false positives by diffusion pollution depending on organic medium and then propose the in-situ Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) readout strategy to identify and locate β-gal positive cells. By building the blue-white screening model and fabricating SERS-active needle sensor, the sensitive detection of β-gal has been realized with the detection limit of less than 1 nmol L-1. The in-situ SERS readout strategy is proved to be necessary and feasible to improve the reliability of X-gal staining assay through shortening the time to a few hours. Moreover, its application was also preliminarily evaluated to analyse individual cells and tissues, which showed the well consistency for judgement of β-gal activity cells at different times. Consequently, by improving reliability and reducing time consumption, this SERS readout strategy may be of great significance to promote the application of X-gal staining assay in biology and biomedicine. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Shaofei Li, Yizhuang Cheng, Siyu Chen, Miao Qin, Pan Li, Liangbao Yang. In-situ SERS readout strategy to improve the reliability of beta-galactosidase activity assay based on X-gal staining in shortening incubation times. Talanta. 2021 Nov 01;234:122689