The printed circuit board used in the saliva-based biosensor, which can detect breast cancer biomarkers from extremely small saliva samples in about five seconds, costs about $5. The design uses widely available components such as common glucose testing strips and the open-source Arduino platform. Credit: Hsiao-Hsuan Wan
Key points:
- Researchers developed a portable biosensor that can detect breast cancer biomarkers from a tiny sample of saliva—as small as one drop.
- Unlike traditional screening options—mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs—the new biosensor is inexpensive, noninvasive, and delivers results quickly.
- The design of this handheld sensor uses common components, including glucose testing strips and the open-source hardware-software platform Arduino to make breast cancer screening more accessible.
A new handheld screening device can detect breast cancer biomarkers from a tiny sample of saliva—as small as one drop. This new tool, detailed in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, has the potential to save more lives.
Researchers treated test strips with specific antibodies that interact with targeted cancer biomarkers. They then placed a saliva sample on the strip and delivered pulses of electricity to contact points on the circuit board used in the biosensor. These pulses cause the biomarkers to bind to the antibodies and change both the charge and capacitance, which alters the output signal. Researchers measured the signal and translated it into a reading of how much biomarker was present. As a result, they were able to screen multiple samples efficiently and accurately for breast cancer.
“Imagine medical staff conducting breast cancer screening in communities or hospitals,” said study author Hsiao-Hsuan Wan of the University of Florida. “Our device is an excellent choice because it is portable and reusable. The testing time is under five seconds per sample.”
The new design sets the device apart from its alternatives. Mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs are costly, invasive, and require large, specialized equipment. These existing devices can take days or weeks to return test results. Now, the new biosensor technique uses common components, including glucose testing strips and the open-source hardware-software platform Arduino to make breast cancer screening more accessible.
“In many places, especially in developing countries, advanced technologies like MRI for breast cancer testing may not be readily available,” explained Wan. “Our technology is more cost-effective, with the test costing just a few cents and the reusable circuit board priced at $5. We are excited about the potential to make a significant impact in areas where people might not have had the resources for breast cancer screening tests before.”