Breakthrough in Cancer Biomarker Detection: Researchers Enhance Sensor Sensitivity

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the University of South Brittany have made a significant advancement in the detection of cancer biomarkers using quantum resistive vapour sensors (vQRS). The team, led by Abhishek Sachan, discovered a novel approach to enhance the sensitivity of vQRS by incorporating poly(hedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes) (POSS) as nano-spacers. This innovative method has resulted in increased sensitivity of vQRS to various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including cancer biomarkers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers from the University of South Brittany have developed a new method to enhance the sensitivity of quantum resistive vapour sensors (vQRS) using poly(hedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes) (POSS) as nano-spacers.
  • The presence of POSS in the sensors increased their sensitivity to VOCs by up to 268 times for acetone and 244 times for toluene, compared to homologue transducers.
  • The vQRS based on POSS copolymers demonstrated much larger chemo-resistive responses and were found to be very selective towards cyclohexane and hexene-1.
  • The PMMA-co-POSS/CNT sensor was able to detect down to 12 ppm of VOC with a high signal-to-noise ratio and to discriminate six VOC among them.
  • The researchers tested the sensors with twenty-one VOC part of lung and skin cancer biomarkers using a dynamic vapour analysis (DVA).
  • The study found that the vQRS based on POSS copolymers showed a significant improvement in sensitivity and selectivity compared to conventional sensors.

Statistics:

  • The presence of POSS in PS-based sensors enhanced their sensitivity by 213 times for toluene, 268 times for acetone, 4 times for ethanol, and 187 times for cyclohexane.
  • The presence of POSS in PMMA chains increased the sensitivity of sensors to cyclohexane by 10 times, to ethanol by 45 times, to toluene by 244 times, and to acetone and butanone by 4 times.
  • The vQRS based on POSS copolymers demonstrated a chemo-resistive response (A [ [R] ] ) of 12 ppm of VOC with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and to discriminate six VOC among them.

Sources:

  • Giant Chemo-Resistive Response of POSS Nano-Spacers in PS- and PMMA-Based Quantum Resistive Vapour Sensors (vQRS) Used for Cancer Biomarker Analysis. Chemosensors, 2025,13(7):226. (Chemosensors - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/chemosensors).
  • NewsRx. Research from University of South Brittany (UBS) Reveals New Findings on Cancer Biomarkers [Giant Chemo-Resistive Response of POSS Nano-Spacers in PS- and PMMA-Based Quantum Resistive Vapour Sensors (vQRS) Used for Cancer Biomarker Analysis]. Health & Medicine Week. August 15, 2025; p 5573.