Nanogenosensors based on aptamers and peptides for bioelectrochemical cancer detection: an overview of recent advances in emerging materials and technologies

Abstract Electrochemical biosensors fabricated based on nucleic acids have shown great potential for cancer recognition because of their low cost, fast feedback, high sensitivity, and easy operation. This review will demonstrate the impression of recent advances and applications of electrochemical biosensors that are nucleic acid-based for cancer detection. We compare electrochemical biosensors formulated on nucleic acids with those formed on antibodies and highlight some examples of electrochemical biosensors developed on nucleic acids for cancer detection, such as biosensors that use DNA or RNA aptamers to detect prostate-specific antigens, microRNA-21, or carcinoembryonic antigens. We discuss the rewards and drawbacks of these biosensors and the challenges they face, such as stability, reproducibility, interference, and standardization. We also suggest some possible directions and opportunities for future research and development, such as developing novel nucleic acid recognition elements, exploring new transducer materials and configurations, designing new signal amplification strategies, integrating electrochemical biosensors with microfluidic devices or portable instruments, and evaluating electrochemical biosensors in clinical settings with actual samples from cancer patients or healthy donors. Overall, we believe that electrochemical biosensors that are nucleic acid-based offer an auspicious alternative to conventional methods for cancer detection and have great potential to contribute to early diagnosis and effective cancer treatment. Graphical Abstract