A graphene oxide-based FRET sensor for rapid and sensitive detection of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in human serum sample

Graphene oxide (GO) has been widely used to develop fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors for tumor markers (e.g., matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs) due to its superior fluorescence quenching capacity and unique adsorption characteristics for biomolecules. In this study, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled peptide (Pep-FITC) was assembled onto the GO surface through covalent binding to construct a GO-Pep-FITC FRET sensor for sensitive, rapid, and accurate detection of MMP-2 in complex serum samples. Compared to similar GO-based FRET sensors fabricated through physical adsorption, the as prepared ones via covalent binding are significantly more stable under physiological conditions, enabling their detection of MMP-2 with high sensitivity (detection limit: 2.5ng/mL). More importantly, it allows for rapid MMP-2 detection (within 3h) even in complex biological samples with satisfactory accuracy and the relative standard deviation ≤7.03%. Our studies further suggest that such a platform developed here for sensitive, rapid, and accurate detection of biomarkers holds great promise for clinical diagnosis of protease-related diseases. •A graphene oxide based FRET sensor for MMP-2 was developed by covalent conjugation.•The sensor has better stability to resist the interference from external environment.•A low detection limit for MMP-2 (2.5ng/mL) was obtained by the sensor.•The sensor was used to determine MMP-2 in real serum sample rapidly (within 3h) with good accuracy (RSD≤7.03%).