Early detection of cancer is important in administering timely treatment and increasing
cancer survival rates. For early cancer detection one can use biomarkers, which are characteristics that
can be objectively measured or evaluated as indicators of normal or pathogenic processes. In our study we
study three protein biomarkers: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and extracellular
protein kinase A (ECPKA), which have been implicated in various types of human cancer. The main
objective of this project is to develop a biosensor for detection of multiple cancer biomarkers. To detect
these protein biomarkers high affinity ssDNA aptamers are being selected. Aptamers are short single
stranded DNAs with an ability to bind to various targets with high affinity and specificity which selected
by SELEX (Systemic Evolution of Ligands through Exponential enrichment) [2]. Ultimately, aptamers
against each of the biomarker will be conjugated to magnetic nanoparticles to capture biomarkers from
biological fluids. Another aptamer is proposed to be conjugated to quantum dots for quantitation of
biomarkers when analyzed on spectrometer