Lung cancer detection could get graphene boost

Early detection of lung cancer is vital for effective treatment, yet the biomarkers for the early stages of the disease are difficult to pick up. One of the most promising diagnostic developments are e-nose (electronic nose) devices, which analyse compounds in the vapour of human breath, combining electronic sensors with mechanisms for pattern recognition, such as neural networks. More sensitive electrodes lead to stronger patterns for the neural networks to analyse, leading to better detection of cancer biomarkers.

With this in mind, the team used multi-layered graphene to create electrodes for a biosensor, demonstrating sensing capabilities for three of the most common lung-cancer biomarkers - ethanol, isopropanol and acetone – across different concentrations. As well as exhibiting enhanced sensitivity for cancer detection, the sensor is also reusable, making it more cost-effective than alternative sensors used in e-nose devices. The research appears in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Nanoscale.