NUS unveils graphene biosensor detecting tumour markers in saliva
A team at the National University of Singapore developed a graphene field-effect transistor biosensor that detects four oral cancer biomarkers from saliva in 90 seconds, achieving 94.2% sensitivity and 91.8% specificity in a 220-patient clinical pilot. The device demonstrates a scalable diagnostic application for functionalized graphene, with a spinout company pursuing commercialization and a projected per-test cost under 4 USD.
Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a graphene-based biosensor that detects tumor markers from saliva samples in under 90 seconds. The device, created by Professor Yong Wei Heng's team at NUS Engineering, utilizes graphene-functionalized field-effect transistors with antibody recognition layers specifically tuned to four oral cancer biomarkers. In a clinical pilot with 220 patients at the National University Hospital, the sensor demonstrated 94.2 percent sensitivity and 91.8 percent specificity compared to biopsy-confirmed diagnoses. The team projects a per-test consumable cost of under 4 USD if produced at scale. This research was published in Nature Communications, supported by the Singapore National Research Foundation. The university has commercialized the technology through a startup, GrapheneSense, which is currently raising Series A funding to target early adoption in dental practices.
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