DNA Biosensor Enables Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

To tackle this challenge, researchers at Chung-Ang University (Seoul, South Korea) have devised an electrochemical DNA biosensor using a composite of graphitic nano-onions and MoS2 nanosheets. This biosensor shows promise in detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, offering the potential for early cervical cancer diagnosis. The team measured the biosensor's sensitivity to these HPV types using the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique in conjunction with methylene blue (MB) as a redox indicator. They observed that the nano-onion/MoS2 nanosheet composite electrode demonstrated higher current peaks than its MoS2-only counterpart, suggesting enhanced conductive electron transfer facilitated by the nano-onions.

This enhancement led to the effective and specific detection of target DNAs from HPV-16 and HPV-18 Siha and Hela cancer cell lines. As a result, MoS2 nanosheets with improved electrical conductivity, when combined with nano-onions, have shown potential as a robust platform for creating electrochemical biosensors that can efficiently diagnose various health conditions, including cervical cancer. Moreover, the integration of nano-onions or nanodiamonds with various organic biomaterials could lead to advancements in chemical functionality, electron transfer conductivity, light absorption, and more. These developments hold promise for groundbreaking applications in disease sensing, targeted drug delivery, and biomedical imaging and diagnostics.

Related Links:
Chung-Ang University