by NIki Widdowson, Queensland University of Technology
edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan
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Credit: Queensland University of Technology
QUT researchers have developed a simple one-hour saliva test for a protein biomarker that has been linked with oral, colon and pancreatic cancers. The findings are published in the journal Talanta.
The paper is titled “Label free paper sensor and light driven material for the rapid screening of S100P cancer biomarker in saliva.” Corresponding author, Associate Professor Emad Kiriakous, from QUT’s School of Chemistry and Physics, said this technology could pave the way for simple, low-cost, point-of-care screening tools to help identify and treat cancer early.
Professor Kiriakous said the QUT team developed a rapid testing technique of saliva using paper coated in gold and silver nanoparticles to create a highly sensitive sensor that records the Raman spectrum (or SERS, the process by which a substance scatters laser light which is used to identify molecules) of saliva samples.
“We used a rapid and inexpensive green synthesis with deep UV LED light to chemically link the antibodies to the surface so that we could observe and record the SERS of S100P for the first time,” Professor Kiriakous said.
“To maximize the integrity of the new method, we developed a target specific paper extractor chip to selectively bind to the biomarker in the saliva sample before the SERS measurement.”
Professor Kiriakous said identifying cancer or precancerous changes at an early stage allowed prompt intervention to slow or prevent disease progression.
“The protein S100P is one of the biomarkers investigated for cancer diagnosis and has been detected in ovarian, prostate, gastric, colorectal and breast cancers.
“Using a light-activated material on paper allows a system that avoids the complicated chemistry normally required in biomarker detection, and by using saliva avoids invasive blood or biopsy sampling.
“It also reduces the cost of biosensor manufacturing and eliminates the associated chemical waste to protect the environment.
“This method could shorten diagnosis time to minutes instead of hours or days and uses low-cost and portable materials.”
More information
Fatimah M. Alzubaidi et al, Label free paper sensor and light driven material for the rapid screening of S100P cancer biomarker in saliva, Talanta (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.129157
Key medical concepts
Screening, CancerMonoclonal antibodies
Clinical categories
OncologyLaboratory medicine
