Ultra-sensitive biosensor could assist early cancer detection

The device, which could be several hundred times more sensitive than other biosensors, combines the attributes of two distinctly different types of sensors, said Muhammad A Alam, a Purdue University professor of electrical and computer engineering.

‘Individually, both of these types of biosensors have limited sensitivity, but when you combine the two you get something that is better than either,’ said Alam in a statement.

The device — dubbed a Flexure-FET biosensor — is said to combine a mechanical sensor, which identifies a biomolecule based on its mass or size, with an electrical sensor that identifies molecules based on their electrical charge. The new sensor detects charged and uncharged biomolecules, allowing a broader range of applications than either type of sensor alone.

The sensor has two potential applications: personalised medicine, in which an inventory of proteins and DNA is recorded for individual patients to make more precise diagnostics and treatment decisions; and the early detection of cancer and other diseases.