Graphene Biosensors: The Perfect Tool For Diangnosing Cancer
Graphene Biosensors: The Perfect Tool For Diangnosing Cancer
Graphene has been hailed for its many remarkable properties. One such amazing use is the healthcare application of this wonder material. Graphene biosensors have been found to be 5 times more sensitive than bioassay drugs in the detection of cancer. Graphene is composed of pure carbon atmos and it has amazing strength as well as optical and conductive properties. These are the reasons why this material can be a real lifesaver.
In research conducted by a team of scientists at the University of Swansea, it was found that highly sensitive biosensors made from graphene were more effective than other bioassay tests for detecting cancer. Graphene has been found to be excellent for detecting molecules that serve to indicate the risk for developing cancer. The sensitivity of this biosensor exceeded traditional bioassay methods by as much as 5 times. The aim was to use this tool to provide results within minutes and save a lot of time in the treatment of cancer.
The study was published in the journal entitled 2D Materials. The stdudy presented the graphene biosensor and found amazing results when it came to the quick diagnosis of cancer. Own Guy from the College of Engineering of the Swansea University and colleagues reported that bioreceptor molecules have been attached to the specially patterned graphene devices. The aim is then to bind strongly and target certain molecules found in particular body fluids. These molecules are found in blood, saliva or urine.
The biosensor was then exposed to different levels of the an oxidative stress biomarker called 8-OhdG which is a molecule that is produced when DNA is damaged. Certain types of cancer have been linked to elevated levels of this molecule the full name of which is 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine. Researchers also found that graphene biosensors could then detect the 8-OhdG concentrations of 0.1 g mL-1 nearly 5 times more sensitive than enzyme linked immunosorbent assays or ELISA currently used for clinic biomarker analysis.
This biosensor was also faster when it came to detecting this biomarker molecule and it could complete the detection of cancer within minutes. "The sensor displayed a specific and selective response to the 8-OHdG target biomarker," the researchers has mentioned in their journal article as quoted by a media agency "The electrical response of the functionalized channels to the 8-OHdG analyte in test PBS solutions is complete in a matter of minutes, allowing rapid qualitative detection of the disease biomarker analyte."
These findings suggest that science has a massive new find with many implications of health care in graphene. The graphene biosensor can now be used for monitoring and detecting a vast number of diseases. The University of Swansea research team is now looking to investigate whether graphene biosensors can detect biomarker molecules for other diseases as well, and the potential applications of these research findings is huge.
