A surface acoustic wave biosensor for early cancer diagnosis

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/BioSensors65002.2025.11239177

This study presents the design, development, and application of a surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based biosensor for early detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is a biomarker protein associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and ovarian cancer. The biosensor leverages the interaction between surface-bound receptors and target biomolecules (AFP proteins) to induce measurable shifts in the acoustic wave properties such as the frequency and insertion loss (IL). The sensing platform is integrated with a microfluidic system, enhancing its real-time detection capabilities and preventing exposure to external influences that affect the signal properties during the sensing process. To achieve high specificity in AFP recognition, the gold surface located at the center of the delay line, matching the size of the aperture, was functionalized. Experimental validations confirmed that the sensor is capable of detecting biomarker concentrations as low as 50 pg/mL (and potentially even lower). The findings highlight the potential of SAW biosensors for rapid, label-free, and non-invasive cancer diagnostics, with implications for early disease detection and clinical applications. Future work will focus on the improvements in biomarker selectivity and detecting lower concentrations, as well as on expanding the technology for broader oncological screening.