Silicon Nanowires and Their Impact on Cancer Detection and Monitoring

Abstract

Since the inception of silicon nanowire (SiNW)-based biosensors in 2001, SiNWs have been employed in various detection schemes and have routinely demonstrated the capability for label-free, real-time, sub-femtomolar detection of both protein and nucleic acid analytes. This has allowed SiNW-based biosensors to integrate into the field of cancer detection and cancer monitoring and thus has the potential to be a paradigm shift in how cancer biomarkers are detected and monitored. Combining this with several promising fields such as liquid biopsies and targeted oncology, SiNW based biosensors represent an opportunity for cancer monitoring and treatment to be a more dynamic process. Such advances can provide clinicians with more information in a shorter time frame on the molecular landscape of cancer patients, which can better inform cancer treatment guidelines.