Tailored SU-8 micropillars superhydrophobic surfaces enhance conformational changes in breast cancer biomarkers

Here we report the fabrication of lotus-leaves-like tailored SU8 micropillars and their application in the context of a multi-technique characterization protocol for the investigation of the structural properties of the two estrogen receptors (ERα66/ERα46). ER (α) expression is undoubtedly the most important biomarker in breast cancer, because it provides the index for sensitivity to endocrine treatment. Beside the well-characterized ERα66 isoform, a shorter one (ERα46) was reported to be expressed in breast cancer cell line. The superhydrophobic supports were developed by using a double step approach including an optical lithography process and a plasma reactive ion roughening one. Upon drying on the micropillars, the bio-samples resulted in stretched fibers of different diameters which were then characterized by synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The evidence of both different spectroscopic vibrational responses and XRD signatures in the two estrogen receptors suggests the presence of conformational changes between the two biomarkers. The SU8 micropillar platform therefore represents a valid tool to enhance the discrimination sensitivity of structural features of this class of biocompunds by exploiting a multi-technique in-situ characterization approach.