Sensor to detect prostate cancer

A sensor chip, able to pick up on subtle differences in glycoprotein molecules, can improve the accuracy and efficiency of prostate cancer diagnosis.

The technology will help improve the process of early stage diagnosis, said researchers in a paper published in the journal Chemical Science.

"It gives a much more accurate reading which relies on antibodies, and reduces the number of false positive results," said lead researcher professor Paula Mendes from the University of Birmingham.

These antibodies are expensive to produce and have a high rate of false-positive readings.

Glycoprotein molecules are useful clinical biomarkers for detecting prostate cancer and other diseases because of their essential role in our immune response.

The team of chemical engineers and chemists created a sensor chip with synthetic receptors along a 2D surface to identify specific, targeted glycoprotein molecules that are differentiated by their modified carbohydrate chains.

"Furthermore, our technology is simple to produce and store, so could feasibly be kept on the shelf of a doctors' surgery anywhere in the world. It can also be recycled for multiple uses without losing accuracy," Mendes said.