Development of Electrochemical Immunosensor for Oral Cancer: Initial Outcome

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), accounting for nearly 90% of head and neck malignancies, continues to pose a global health challenge with over 250,000 new cases annually, especially in developing nations. Its frequent progression from precancerous lesions such as oral leukoplakia (OL) underscores the urgent need for an early, non-invasive diagnostic tool. This thesis investigates the use of a nanoengineered electrochemical immunosensor targeting the S100A7 protein, a biomarker associated with OSCC risk. The biosensor's sensitivity and specificity were assessed across a range of clinically relevant concentrations in artificial serum and artificial saliva, simulating different stages of the disease. Additionally, an ELISA assay was performed to validate sensor performance and benchmark biomarker detection. The findings demonstrate consistent trends in biomarker expression and validate the potential of the sensor for early-stage diagnosis. This integrated approach highlights a promising pathway towards non-invasive, point-of-care screening for malignant transformation in patients with oral premalignant disorders such as OL. However, further research involving clinical samples and larger datasets is necessary to establish the sensor's diagnostic accuracy and real-world applicability.