Biosensors in Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a significant health concern for women worldwide. More than 600,000 women are diagnosed
annually with cervical cancer, and approximately 340,000 of those women die from it each year. The leading cause
of cervical cancer is called HPV, particularly high-risk HPV strains (e.g. HPV 16 and 18). The virus can enter your
body and slowly alter your normal cells into cancer cells by producing the harmful proteins E6 and E7. Although
vaccinations (i.e. Gardasil) are effective in protecting young girls from developing cervical cancer, adult women
must continue to get regular screening for cervical cancer. The older methods used for screening women for
cervical cancer (i.e. Pap smear) are only able to detect between 50% to 70% of all cervical abnormalities, and they
rely upon laboratory technicians who have the expertise to read the sample. PCR tests can accurately identify
approximately 95% of cervical cancer cases; however, these tests take 1 to 3 days to process, cost $40 per test,
must be performed in a specialized laboratory, and require cold storage (i.e. refrigeration) until they are used –
making them unsuitable for many villages and small health care clinics.Biosensors are the promise for the future
of cervical cancer detection. Biosensors are small, easy to use test devices similar to blood sugar testing strips.
They consist of a “catcher,” like an antibody or DNA fragment, which is used to capture the presence of HPV
from a single swab taken from a woman’s neck. The results of the test are then visualized using either a light
signal, color change or weight change – within 10 minutes, for $5. Electrically-activated biosensors are the least
expensive and easiest to manufacture using printed testing strips with ultra-sensitive gold nanoparticles combined
with either electrical or optical detection; therefore biosensors will produce an accuracy rate matching that of PCR
tests but can be performed in any location, resulting in a 40% reduction in cervical cancer mortality rates in
impoverished regions such as Pune. Here we will discuss biosensor construction and their advantages.(2)(11)(13)