Graphene oxide and molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensor for the electrochemical detection of benzene: A novel tactic in early diagnosis of lung cancer

Abstract

Early cancer detection significantly enhances survival rates, making widespread diagnostic screening essential. However, the high cost and limited accessibility of diagnostic tools pose major challenges. Nanomaterial-based sensors offer a promising solution due to their portability, user-friendly design, and cost-effective manufacturing. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the human body are closely linked to the presence of life-threatening diseases, with benzene emerging as a significant biomarker in the breath and blood of individuals at risk of developing lung cancer. Leveraging this correlation, we have developed a sensor capable of detecting benzene with high reliability. This study details the fabrication of an electrochemical sensor on a screen-printed electrode (SPE), modified with graphene oxide (GO) followed by molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). SPE promotes the development of a miniaturized and user-friendly sensing platform. The incorporation of GO is responsible for improving the sensor's response due to its excellent electrochemical properties. The MIP is synthesized using benzene as a template, which creates imprints of benzene on the polymer. Integration of this MIP significantly improves the sensor’s selectivity. This approach addresses the key limitation of low selectivity in VOC sensors for medical applications. The sensor demonstrated a broad linear range of 0.1–1000 ppb with a sensitivity of 15.5 µA/ppb and exhibited excellent selectivity toward benzene. By enhancing both sensitivity and selectivity, the developed sensor offers a promising solution toward effective, accessible, and early lung cancer diagnosis.