Wearable Silicon Nanowire Biosensor for Real-Time Detection of Cancerous Tumor Margins Based on Electro Metabolomics Publisher



A Ghelichli ALIREZA ; Zs Mousaviarya Zahra SADAT ; Me Ghorbani Mohammad EHSAN ; N Manoochehri NAVID ; H Abadijoo HAMED ; Sm Yazdanparast Seyed MOJTABA ; Smg Mousavikiasari Seyyed Mohammad GHASEM ; Ms Fakheri Mohammad SALEH ; S Moharamipour SHIMA ; M Abdolahad MOHAMMAD
Source: Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical Published:2025

Abstract

Precise tumor surgery with clear margins is of central importance for patients with solid tumors, especially in breast cancer (lumpectomy). In the present study, we fabricated silicon nanowires (SiNWs) based on metal-assisted chemical etching of silicon from 1 µm to 27 µm length. The vertically aligned fabricated silicon nanowires were employed as a planar-shaped sensor and integrated with reference and counter electrodes into a finger touch sensor configuration and a readout circuit was designed to capture sensor signals. The electrochemical interaction between normal/cancer cells and silicon nanowires was investigated, achieving significant cyclic voltammetric peaks which were completely different between normal and cancer cells in vitro (cell line) and in vivo (mice model). The quantifiable anodic and cathodic currents were meaningfully correlated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) so that they were 18.5 µA and 33.7 µA for anodic and cathodic peaks in breast triple-negative while it is zero in the healthy cell line. Moreover, the recorded peaks were more than 40 µA in involved tissues than negligible in normal counterparts. The literature suggests that SiNWs are able to detect the reactive oxygen species released in biological secretion. This new non-invasive sensing system may be better evaluated for intraoperative use after human model trials. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.