Electrochemical Detection Techniques in Cancer Bioanalysis

Electrochemical detection techniques have become integral to cancer bioanalysis, offering rapid, sensitive and label-free measurement of biomarkers and cellular events. By converting biochemical interactions into electrical signals, methods such as cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and field-effect transistor sensing enable quantification of nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites and intact cells. Surface modification of electrodes with nanomaterials, affinity ligands and molecular probes enhances selectivity and detection limits, while miniaturised platforms support point-of-care diagnostics. Real-time monitoring of cell proliferation, viability and metastatic behaviour is achievable through impedance-based assays and bioelectric profiling at the single-cell level. Global efforts focus on integrating these technologies into portable devices for early cancer detection, therapy monitoring and personalised risk assessment. Despite challenges in multiplexing, reproducibility and interfacing with complex biological samples, ongoing research continues to advance electrode design, biofunctionalisation strategies and system integration, moving electrochemical bioanalysis closer to clinical translation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have established a cyclic voltammetry assay for lymphocyte proliferation. In this approach, changes in voltammetric signals correlate with cell number in culture or whole blood, enabling rapid, label-free monitoring within hours. The method employs microplate interfacing with carbon electrodes to track redox activity of proliferating cells, matching traditional colourimetric assays but offering faster turnaround and compatibility with unprocessed blood. This work underscores the potential of electrochemical assays in immunological profiling and cancer diagnostics.

Electrochemical Detection Techniques in Cancer Bioanalysis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical detection techniques in cancer bioanalysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrochemical biosensor: A device that converts biochemical interactions at an electrode’s surface into measurable electrical signals for analyte detection.

Cyclic voltammetry (CV): An electrochemical technique whereby the electrode potential is cycled to probe redox-active species and obtain current–potential profiles.

Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV): A sensitive voltammetric method applying potential pulses to enhance resolution and lower detection limits for analytes.

Screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE): A low-cost, disposable electrode platform fabricated by printing carbon ink patterns onto substrates for point-of-care assays.

Field-effect transistor (FET): A semiconductor device used in biosensing where binding events modulate an electrical field, altering source–drain current as an analytical signal.

References

1. Nanotechnology and Cancer Bioelectricity: Bridging the Gap Between Biology and Translational Medicine. Advanced Science (2023).
2. Recent Advances in Electrochemical Biosensors for Monitoring Animal Cell Function and Viability. Biosensors (2022).
3. Evaluation of a new lymphocyte proliferation assay based on cyclic voltammetry; an alternative method. Scientific Reports (2019).
4. Quantification of Myoinositol in Serum by Electrochemical Detection with an Unmodified Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrode. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry (2022).