Ultrasensitive MXene-based electrochemical biosensor for squamous cell carcinoma antigen detection

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is a key biomarker for cervical cancer, and early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Traditional methods like cytological screening and ELISA are limited by high costs and low sensitivity. This study presents an MXene-based electrochemical sensor (MX-iEC-SCCA), which enhances sensitivity and stability due to MXene’s superior conductivity and functional groups. The sensor covers a detection range from 0.01 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL, with an exceptional limit of 0.0036 pg/mL. It shows 1.51% reproducibility and only a 0.3% signal decrease over five weeks, demonstrating excellent stability. In plasma samples, it correlates well with target values (R² = 0.9787), and statistical analysis of 31 samples (15 low-concentration, 16 high-concentration) yields significant results (p = 3.74E-06). ROC curve analysis confirms its performance, with an AUC of 0.982. These results position MX-iEC-SCCA as a reliable, efficient tool for early cervical cancer diagnosis and other cancers.