Gold nanoparticle-based aptasensors: A promising perspective for early-stage detection of cancer biomarkers

Early detection of cancer is critical for providing safe and timely treatment to patients. To detect the existence of biological markers for cancer at very low levels in the early phases of tumor development, highly reliable and adaptable methods will be required. These methods have been proven to be effective in encouraging patients to create early intervention strategies, which may eventually contribute to an increase in the overall survival rate of the patient. As a result of nanotechnology, the development of nanometer-scale biosensors is possible, as is the provision of high sensitivity and adaptability. This allows for the identification of biochemical and biophysical signals associated with health hazards (transmittable or non-transmittable diseases such as cancer) at the level of individual molecules or cells. Designs like this stand out from the crowd because they offer unique properties such as strong electrical conductivity, increased shock-bearing capacity, and responsive responses such as piezoelectric and color changes in nanoparticle morphologies, which distinguish them from the competition. Aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles, due to their molecular architecture, have the potential to be used in a variety of new applications that go beyond their traditional role in biosensing. The use of gold nanostructures by cancer researchers has increased in recent years, owing to their ease of synthesis and surface mobility, their desirable and adjustable optical characteristics, and their good cytocompatibility in clinical settings, among other factors. As a result of the many characteristics that have resulted, these sensors have been extensively and successfully utilized in both optical and electrochemical applications. Investigations have been carried out on the effectiveness of gold nanoparticle-based biosensors that make use of aptamers as biosensor technology. It is the purpose of this study to review the advances made in the development of gold nanoparticle-based aptasensors, as well as their use in the discovery of cancer biomarkers for early-stage cancer diagnosis and subsequent therapy for the eradication of this deadly illness.