Next-generation optical sensing: mesoporous hollow-shell nanostructured one-dimensional photonic crystal sensors for sCD40L detection in acute coronary syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) refers to a group of clinical symptoms resulting from acute ischemia of the coronary arteries. Studies have shown that the level of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is significantly elevated in patients with ACS, making it a novel target for cardiovascular disease treatment. In response, this study proposes an optical sensor based on a modified single-crystal silicon substrate. The sensor utilizes PEG/TiO₂ as the sensing element and sCD40L@SL-mTiO₂ nanoparticles as the recognition molecules, enabling highly specific detection of sCD40L while incorporating a self-cleaning capability. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light, the sensor not only detects the concentration of sCD40L with high sensitivity and accuracy, but also degrades bacteria and decomposes organic matter <i>via</i> photochemical reactions, thereby enabling an effective self-cleaning function. The research findings indicate that this one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystal sensor is capable of rapidly and accurately conducting qualitative detection of sCD40L, demonstrating great potential for efficient analysis of biological samples. The application of this sensor not only provides a novel technological pathway for early cardiovascular disease diagnosis but also offers theoretical support for related drug development and clinical diagnostics.