Electroconductive polymer-based biosensors for early cancer detection via liquid biopsy: Advances, challenges, and future prospects

Early detection and treatment significantly improve the survival rates and overall health outcomes of cancer Early detection and treatment significantly improve the survival rates and overall health outcomes of cancer patients, making them critical factors in reducing the global mortality rate. Electrochemical biosensors have the patients, making them critical factors in reducing the global mortality rate. Electrochemical biosensors have the capability to detect a wide range of cancer biomarkers-including DNA, RNA, proteins, enzymes, and cells-in capability to detect a wide range of cancer biomarkers-including DNA, RNA, proteins, enzymes, and cells-in biological samples. Conductive polymers, which possess unique electrical and optical properties, can enhance the biological samples. Conductive polymers, which possess unique electrical and optical properties, can enhance the performance of these biosensors. They provide a biocompatible surface for biomolecule attachment, facilitate performance of these biosensors. They provide a biocompatible surface for biomolecule attachment, facilitate electron transport between the electrode and analyte, and amplify signals through their electroactive properties electron transport between the electrode and analyte, and amplify signals through their electroactive properties or by integrating functional nanomaterials. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent advances in or by integrating functional nanomaterials. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the development of electrochemical biosensors utilizing conductive polymers and their composites for cancer the development of electrochemical biosensors utilizing conductive polymers and their composites for cancer biomarker detection. It explores the benefits and challenges associated with various conductive polymers, such as biomarker detection. It explores the benefits and challenges associated with various conductive polymers, such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), alongside their polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), alongside their fabrication techniques, including electrodeposition, chemical polymerization, and spin coating. Additionally, fabrication techniques, including electrodeposition, chemical polymerization, and spin coating. Additionally, strategies to enhance the sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and reproducibility of these biosensors-such as the use strategies to enhance the sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and reproducibility of these biosensors-such as the use of aptamers, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and multiplexing-are discussed. The review also considers the of aptamers, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and multiplexing-are discussed. The review also considers the future potential and challenges of employing electrochemical biosensors based on conductive polymers in cancer future potential and challenges of employing electrochemical biosensors based on conductive polymers in cancer detection. detection.