Recent progress in the early detection of cancer based on CD44 biomarker; nano-biosensing approaches

CD44 is a cell matrix adhesion molecule overexpressed on the cell surfaces of the major cancers. CD44 as a cancer-related biomarker has an essential role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer. The detection and quantification of CD44 can provide essential information useful for clinical cancer diagnosis. In this regard, biosensors with sensitive and specific properties, give prominence to the development of CD44 detection platforms. To date, various aptamer-based sensitive-enhancers together with nanoparticles (NPs) have been combined into the biosensors systems to provide an innovative biosensing method (aptasensors/nano-aptasensors) with substantially improved detection limit. This review article discusses the recent advances in the field of biosensors, nanobiosensors, and aptasensors for the quantitative determination of CD44 and the detection of CD44-expressing cancer cells.