Label-Free Electrochemical Biosensor Platforms for Cancer Diagnosis: Recent Achievements and Challenges

Abstract

With its fatal effects, cancer is still one of the most important diseases of today’s world. The underlying fact behind this scenario is most probably due to its late diagnosis. That is why the necessity for the detection of different cancer types is obvious. Cancer studies including cancer diagnosis and therapy have been one of the most laborious tasks. Since its early detection significantly affects the following therapy steps, cancer diagnosis is very important. Despite researchers’ best efforts, the accurate and rapid diagnosis of cancer is still challenging and difficult to investigate. It is known that electrochemical techniques have been successfully adapted into the cancer diagnosis field. Electrochemical sensor platforms that are brought together with the excellent selectivity of biosensing elements, such as nucleic acids, aptamers or antibodies, have put forth very successful outputs. One of the remarkable achievements of these biomolecule-attached sensors is their lack of need for additional labeling steps, which bring extra burdens such as interference effects or demanding modification protocols. In this review, we aim to outline label-free cancer diagnosis platforms that use electrochemical methods to acquire signals. The classification of the sensing platforms is generally presented according to their recognition element, and the most recent achievements by using these attractive sensing substrates are described in detail. In addition, the current challenges are discussed.

Paper-Based Analytical Devices for Cancer Liquid Biopsy

“…The distinct attributes of nucleic acids, encompassing their capacity for discerning binding to complementary sequences, have paved the way for precise and sensitive identification of cancer biomarkers. 76 Nucleic acids were attached to paper to form a versatile electrochemical detection system. This can aid in personalized medicine by analyzing biomarkers.…”

“…Recently, nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA have emerged as promising biomolecular recognition elements within the realm of cancer detection using electrochemical paper-based platforms. The distinct attributes of nucleic acids, encompassing their capacity for discerning binding to complementary sequences, have paved the way for precise and sensitive identification of cancer biomarkers . Nucleic acids were attached to paper to form a versatile electrochemical detection system.…”

Integrative analysis of RNA expression data unveils distinct cancer types through machine learning techniques

“…Breast cancer is widely recognized as the predominant form of cancer affecting women, ahead of lung cancer on a global level ( Mei and Wu, 2022 ). On the other hand, prostate cancer ranks highest among cancer types in men, closely followed by colorectal and lung cancer ( Sanko and Kuralay, 2023 ). Moreover, thyroid, colorectal, and cervical cancers are among the other malignancies that are commonly identified in females.…”

Circulating Tumor Cells Adhesion: Application in Biosensors

“…Moreover, in the case of biosensors that apply electrochemical techniques, advantages such as high reproducibility and sensitivity are also achieved [ 24 ]. Electrochemical sensors are based on the electron transfer at the analyte-electrode interface, involving an analyte-receptor [ 25 ]; such interaction can be analyzed through different detection modes, such as potentiometric, amperometric, conductometric, impedimetric, and voltammetric measurements [ 26 ]. Thus, the prediction of the pathological stage of cancer can be obtained through electrochemical biosensors, as the tumor lineages are detectable, despite their heterogeneity, by changes in the capacitive and resistive natures of the cell [ 27 ].…”