Cascaded amplification-based modular ternary DNA logic circuit for precise identification of circulating tumor cells

Precise identification of tumor cells is paramount for disease diagnosis and treatment, where tumor markers play a pivotal role. However, relying solely on a single tumor marker detection method often falls short in differentiating various types of tumor cells, leading to potential false-positive signals. To address this challenge, we have developed a ternary DNA logic gate system. This logic circuit is supported by multi-aptamers and performs identification operations by targeting different cell surface proteins. It fully leverages the functionality and framework characteristics of DNA nanostructures, employing a Toehold-Mediated Strand Displacement (TMSD) cascade amplification reaction to convert the strand signal into an electrical signal. This integrated multi-module ternary DNA logic gate system demonstrates accurate recognition among six cell lines while achieving highly sensitive detection of target tumor cells. Biosensors that integrate DNA logic computing with aptamers not only facilitate accurate tumor cell identification but also exhibit significant potential in the realms of drug delivery and cancer therapy.