Electrochemical Biosensors for Cancer Biomarker Detection: Basic Concept, Design Strategy and Cutting-Edge Development

Abstract

Cancer is a result of uncontrolled cell growth with the potential to damage or spread to another part of the body. It is the deadliest disease in the world; therefore, rapid and sensitive detection is essential to fight it. In the past few decades, many diagnosis tools have been developed to detect cancer and monitor therapy progress. Among them, electrochemical biosensor showed the promising significance due to its capability of early detection, selectivity, sensitivity, flexibility, portability and cost-effectiveness. The performance of the electrochemical sensor depends on the sensor surface engineering as well as development techniques based on the types of biomarkers. This review covers the importance of cancer diagnosis, the basic concept of the electrochemical biosensor, design strategy of biosensors including surface engineering and the state-of-the-art for different types of biomarker detection. Additionally, the limitations and advantages of different types of biosensors were parallelly explained. Finally, the future direction for the advancement of electrochemical biosensor is comprehensively discussed. The author trusts that the insights thus explained will lead to further research in the scholarly community aimed at expanding theoretical knowledge and pragmatic innovation in electrochemical sensing devices for cancer detection. Such research findings are anticipated to facilitate high-end developments both in the theoretical area and the application.