Biosensors Nanotechnology

11Biosensors for Salivary Biomarker Detection of Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Bhama Sajeevan, Gopika M.G., Sreelekshmi, Rejithammol R., Santhy Antherjanam and Beena Saraswathyamma*

Department of Chemistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kollam, India

Abstract

Biosensors are devices that make use of biorecognition elements and produce measurable signals proportional to the concentration of the target biomolecules for the prognosis and diagnosis of cancer and neurological diseases. Since the prognosis and diagnosis of these diseases are of utmost concern, the development of diagnostic tools for them is a focus area of research. When a person is affected with cancer or neurological diseases, the patients’ body secretes some molecules that act as biomarkers which is a warning sign that confirms that a person is suffering from these diseases and proper tests have to be done to confirm the disease. These biomarkers can detect diseases even in the primary stages and it can be pivotal for timely treatment and cure. Biomarker-based expression techniques that are currently used in diagnosis require invasive approaches to accumulate tissue samples of individuals which are expensive, time consuming and cumbersome, making them impractical for use. Salivary samples have been used in analysis of a variety of diseases, including cancers and, neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases which will be discussed in this chapter.

Keywords: Biosensor, salivary biomarker, neurodegenerative ...