Yes, you read that right. A spit test for breast cancer screening?
Researchers from the University of Florida and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan have made significant progress in the early detection of breast cancer, as detailed in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology.
They have developed a hand-held device capable of identifying breast cancer indicators through a small saliva sample. This innovation utilizes common items, such as glucose testing strips and Arduino, an open-source hardware-software platform, making it a groundbreaking tool in the fight against breast cancer.
The device is designed to be portable, roughly the size of a hand, and reusable, with the ability to process a test in under five seconds. It functions by using paper test strips coated with antibodies that react with cancer biomarkers found in saliva.
When a sample is placed on the strip, electrical pulses are applied, causing these biomarkers to bind to the antibodies. This binding alters the electrical characteristics (charge and capacitance) at the electrode, resulting in a measurable change in the output signal. This change is then converted into digital data indicating the biomarker’s presence and concentration.
This technology stands out from current breast cancer screening methods like mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs, which are not only expensive and invasive but also limited by their need for large, specialized equipment, exposure to low-dose radiation, and lengthy result processing times.
The new biosensor is especially promising for low-resource settings, including developing countries where advanced medical technologies are scarce.
It offers a cost-effective solution, with each test strip costing mere cents and the reusable circuit board priced at around $5.
Remarkably, the device can accurately detect the presence of cancer biomarkers in concentrations as low as one femtogram per milliliter of saliva, highlighting its sensitivity and potential for broad impact in global breast cancer screening efforts.
The development team, led by Hsiao-Hsuan Wan, believes this device could revolutionize how breast cancer screenings are conducted, offering a quick, affordable, and less invasive alternative that could significantly increase accessibility and early detection rates worldwide.
