MIP-Based Sensors: Promising New Tools for Cancer Biomarker Determination

Abstract

Detecting cancer disease at an early stage is one of the most important issues for increasing the survival rate of patients. Cancer biomarker detection helps to provide a diagnosis before the disease becomes incurable in later stages. Biomarkers can also be used to evaluate the progression of therapies and surgery treatments. In recent years, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based sensors have been intensely investigated as promising analytical devices in several fields, including clinical analysis, offering desired portability, fast response, specificity, and low cost. The aim of this review is to provide readers with an overview on recent important achievements in MIP-based sensors coupled to various transducers (e.g., electrochemical, optical, and piezoelectric) for the determination of cancer biomarkers by selected publications from 2012 to 2016.

Keywords: MIPs; biomarker; cancer; molecularly imprinted polymer; sensor; tumor.

Figure 1

Schematic representation for the fabrication of the PSA sensor. Adapted with permission from [37]. ©2014 Elsevier.

Figure 2

Schematic representation for the synthesis of fluorescence, stimuli-responsive AFP-imprinted polymer. Reprinted with permission from [21]. ©2015 Elsevier.

Figure 3

Schematic representation of molecular imprinted protein nanosensor fabrication and template protein detection. Step 1: adsorption of CA-125 onto the nanoelectrode surface; Step 2: electrochemical polymerization of phenol; Step 3: template protein removal; Step 4: CA-125 binding and signal generation. Adapted with permission of [42]. ©2012 Elsevier.

Figure 4

Schematic illustration for the detection mechanism of the bilirubin photoelectrochemical sensor. Reprinted with permission from [45]. ©2015 Elsevier.