Recent advances in micro/nano-particles for clinical detection of cancer biomarkers

Cancer is a major threat to public health and is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cancer biomarkers are extremely important in the process of early detection of cancer, diagnosis, judgment of the curative effect and the prognosis. They also play an important role in mechanistic research into carcinogenesis. Detection methods based on cancer biomarkers for the determination of cancer can directly affect the diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the development of highly sensitive and selective approaches for the detection of cancer biomarkers is critical. Micro- and nanoparticles play an important role in the clinical detection of cancer biomarkers. In this review, we provide an overview of the commonly used clinical detection methods for cancer biomarkers, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, chemiluminescence, electrochemiluminescence, as well as their technical characteristics. Additionally, various applications of recent advances in microparticles and nanoparticles in the clinical detection of cancer biomarkers are also reviewed.