Abstract

Recent advances in molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors present a significant opportunity for precise biomarker detection, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and rapid analysis capabilities. This review consolidates the current state-of-the-art in MIP-SERS for cancer screening, examining the integration of plasmonic nanostructures (NSs) SERS effect, thereby significantly enhancing detection sensitivity. Concurrently, MIPs improve specificity by incorporating selective binding sites that mimic natural receptor-ligand interactions. The synergistic combination of MIPs and SERS enhances the precision and reliability of cancer biomarker detection, facilitating clinical translation and advancing diagnostic and prognostic methodologies. While MIP-based SERS sensing of cancer biomarkers demonstrates exceptional sensitivity and specificity, challenges pertaining to scalability, reproducibility, and high production costs currently impede widespread clinical implementation. The review details sensor designs that leverage plasmonic effects and MIPs, discussing strategies to mitigate issues such as non-specific binding and background interference in complex biological samples. It assesses the current state of the field, highlighting gaps in industrialization and commercial viability compared to existing diagnostic tools. Additionally, the review provides an overview of the patent landscape, identifying opportunities for future innovations and commercial viability, emphasizing the need for advancements in mass production and user-friendly diagnostic devices.