# Highly Sensitive Fluorescent Detection of HPV-16 DNA Using Tungsten Disulfide Nanosheets and Exonuclease III-Assisted Signal Amplification

## TL;DR

A new method using nanosheets and enzyme-assisted amplification detects HPV-16 DNA with high sensitivity, offering potential for cervical cancer screening.

## Contribution

A novel fluorescence sensing method combining WS2 nanosheets and EXO III for highly sensitive HPV-16 detection.

## Key findings

- The method achieves a detection limit of 0.35 pM for HPV-16 DNA.
- The technique demonstrates high specificity and sensitivity in spiked serum samples.
- Multiple rounds of signal amplification are enabled by EXO III cleavage and reuse of the target DNA.

## Abstract

This study addresses the need for detecting human papillomavirus type 16 DNA (HPV-16), a high-risk factor for cervical cancer, by developing a highly sensitive fluorescence sensing method based on tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets and exonuclease III (EXO III)-assisted cyclic amplification. The method is constructed by combining the highly efficient fluorescence quenching capability of tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets with a fluorescein (FAM)-labeled complementary DNA (cDNA) probe. When the target HPV-16 is present, it specifically hybridizes with the cDNA to form a double-stranded structure. This double-stranded structure can be cleaved by EXO III. The cleaved cDNA is not adsorbed by WS2 nanosheets, generating a significant fluorescence signal. The released HPV-16 can then participate in the reaction again, achieving multiple rounds of fluorescence signal amplification. Under optimal conditions, the detection limit of the method is 0.35 pM. The method was successfully applied to the detection of HPV-16 in spiked serum samples, demonstrating the advantages of operational simplicity, high sensitivity, and good specificity. It provides a promising rapid detection method for clinical application research related to human papillomavirus.