The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer System

The early and accurate detection of cancer remains a critical challenge in biomedical diagnostics. In this work, we propose and investigate a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor platform based on a multilayer configuration incorporating copper (Cu), silicon nitride (Si<sub>3</su...

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Main Authors: Talia Tene, Diego Fabián Vique López, Paulina Elizabeth Valverde Aguirre, Adriana Monserrath Monge Moreno, Cristian Vacacela Gomez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Sci
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/7/2/76
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author Talia Tene
Diego Fabián Vique López
Paulina Elizabeth Valverde Aguirre
Adriana Monserrath Monge Moreno
Cristian Vacacela Gomez
author_facet Talia Tene
Diego Fabián Vique López
Paulina Elizabeth Valverde Aguirre
Adriana Monserrath Monge Moreno
Cristian Vacacela Gomez
author_sort Talia Tene
collection DOAJ
description The early and accurate detection of cancer remains a critical challenge in biomedical diagnostics. In this work, we propose and investigate a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor platform based on a multilayer configuration incorporating copper (Cu), silicon nitride (Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS<sub>2</sub>) for the optical detection of various cancer types. Four distinct sensor architectures (Sys<sub>1</sub>–Sys<sub>4</sub>) were optimized through the systematic tuning of Cu thickness, Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> dielectric layer thickness, and the number of MoS<sub>2</sub> monolayers to enhance sensitivity, angular shift, and spectral sharpness. The optimized systems were evaluated using refractive index data corresponding to six cancer types (skin, cervical, blood, adrenal, breast T1, and breast T2), with performance metrics including sensitivity, detection accuracy, quality factor, figure of merit, limit of detection, and comprehensive sensitivity factor. Among the configurations, Sys<sub>3</sub> (BK7–Cu–Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>–MoS<sub>2</sub>) demonstrated the highest sensitivity, reaching 254.64 °/RIU for adrenal cancer, while maintaining a low detection limit and competitive figures of merit. Comparative analysis revealed that the MoS<sub>2</sub>-based designs, particularly Sys<sub>3</sub>, outperform conventional noble-metal architectures in terms of sensitivity while using earth-abundant, scalable materials. These results confirm the potential of Cu/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/MoS<sub>2</sub>-based SPR biosensors as practical and effective tools for label-free cancer diagnosis across multiple malignancy types.
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spelling doaj-art-4eed46fe4e5a42a5b2d051b3125514452025-08-20T03:29:48ZengMDPI AGSci2413-41552025-06-01727610.3390/sci7020076The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer SystemTalia Tene0Diego Fabián Vique López1Paulina Elizabeth Valverde Aguirre2Adriana Monserrath Monge Moreno3Cristian Vacacela Gomez4Department of Chemistry, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110160, EcuadorFacultad de Salud Pública, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, EcuadorINFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Via E. Fermi 54, I-00044 Frascati, ItalyThe early and accurate detection of cancer remains a critical challenge in biomedical diagnostics. In this work, we propose and investigate a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor platform based on a multilayer configuration incorporating copper (Cu), silicon nitride (Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS<sub>2</sub>) for the optical detection of various cancer types. Four distinct sensor architectures (Sys<sub>1</sub>–Sys<sub>4</sub>) were optimized through the systematic tuning of Cu thickness, Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> dielectric layer thickness, and the number of MoS<sub>2</sub> monolayers to enhance sensitivity, angular shift, and spectral sharpness. The optimized systems were evaluated using refractive index data corresponding to six cancer types (skin, cervical, blood, adrenal, breast T1, and breast T2), with performance metrics including sensitivity, detection accuracy, quality factor, figure of merit, limit of detection, and comprehensive sensitivity factor. Among the configurations, Sys<sub>3</sub> (BK7–Cu–Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>–MoS<sub>2</sub>) demonstrated the highest sensitivity, reaching 254.64 °/RIU for adrenal cancer, while maintaining a low detection limit and competitive figures of merit. Comparative analysis revealed that the MoS<sub>2</sub>-based designs, particularly Sys<sub>3</sub>, outperform conventional noble-metal architectures in terms of sensitivity while using earth-abundant, scalable materials. These results confirm the potential of Cu/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/MoS<sub>2</sub>-based SPR biosensors as practical and effective tools for label-free cancer diagnosis across multiple malignancy types.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/7/2/76surface plasmon resonancecancerbiosensortransfer matrix methodcoppersilicon nitride
spellingShingle Talia Tene
Diego Fabián Vique López
Paulina Elizabeth Valverde Aguirre
Adriana Monserrath Monge Moreno
Cristian Vacacela Gomez
The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer System
Sci
surface plasmon resonance
cancer
biosensor
transfer matrix method
copper
silicon nitride
title The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer System
title_full The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer System
title_fullStr The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer System
title_full_unstemmed The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer System
title_short The Detection of Different Cancer Types Using an Optimized MoS<sub>2</sub>-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Multilayer System
title_sort detection of different cancer types using an optimized mos sub 2 sub based surface plasmon resonance multilayer system
topic surface plasmon resonance
cancer
biosensor
transfer matrix method
copper
silicon nitride
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/7/2/76
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