Electrochemical detection of cancer biomarkers

Abstract

Early diagnosis of cancer is crucial for the successful treatment of the disease. Highly sensitive methods are urgently needed for measuring cancer diagnosis markers present at ultra-low levels during early stages of the disease. Such methods should facilitate early detection and an adequate selection of the treatment of diseases in order to achieve increased patient survival rates. Existing diagnostic tests (e.g., ELISA) are not sensitive enough, detecting proteins at levels corresponding to advanced stages of the disease. Smaller, faster, and cheaper (one-step) devices are highly desired for replacing time-consuming laboratory analyses. Making analytical results available at the patient’s bedside within a few minutes will greatly improve the monitoring of cancer progress and patient therapy.Advances in molecular biology have led to a deeper understanding of potential biomarkers that can be used for cancer diagnosis. The realisation of point-of-care cancer diagnostics thus requires proper attention to the major challenge of multi-target detection. Arrays of biosensors, detecting protein signature patterns or multiple DNA mutations, can be used to help screening and guide treatment. Innovative biosensor strategies would allow cancer testing to be performed more rapidly, inexpensively, and reliably in a decentralised setting. This particular thesis will discuss the use of electrochemical biosensors for molecular detection and the prospects and challenges of using such devices for point-of-care (POC) cancer diagnostics.

Date of Award	13 Dec 2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Pedro Estrela (Supervisor)