A Microfluidic Chip and Molecularly Imprinted Biosensing Platform for Early Detection of Breast Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Early and accurate detection of breast cancer is essential for improving therapeutic success and reducing disease-related mortality. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as potent biomarkers reflecting the molecular and biophysical state of tumor cells. In this work, we present an integrated sensing platform that enables efficient isolation and ultrasensitive detection of breast cancer–derived EVs. A biomimetic microfluidic chip was developed to recreate key aspects of the breast tumor microenvironment, allowing controlled culture of MCF-7 cells and on-chip EV collection. To achieve label-free recognition, we employed a molecular imprinting approach that records the nanoscale features and surface chemistry of EVs onto functionalized nanoparticles. These EV-imprinted nanostructures were coupled with optical biosensors to enable real-time, reagent-free detection. The platform demonstrated high specificity, reproducibility, and stability while eliminating the dependence on antibody-based assays. This integrative approach provides a promising route toward early, non-invasive breast cancer diagnostics and offers new opportunities to investigate tumor-derived EVs as next-generation biomarkers in precision medicine.