A simple, specific and “on-off” type MUC1 fluorescence aptasensor based on exosomes for detection of breast cancer

•Tumor-derived exosomes as a novel liquid biopsy biomarker for cancer diagnosis.•MUC-1 is over-expressed on the surface of adenocarcinomas, in particular MCF-7 cells.•MUC-1 is also highly expressed on the surface of exosomes secreted by MCF-7 cells.•MUC-1 aptasensor of “on-off”-type specific detection of tumor exosomes in the blood.