Material-enhanced biosensors for cancer biomarkers detection

[Display omitted] •The accurate sensing of tumor biomarkers based on biosensors is becoming one of the most promising strategies for cancer diagnostics.•Four types of biosensors including electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, and mass spectrometric biosensors with the enhancement mechanisms via material are summarized.•The recent advances and limitations in material-enhanced biosensors for cancer biomarkers detection are reviewed. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, the early diagnosis of which decides the patient's prognosis. The accurate sensing of tumor biomarkers is becoming one of the most promising strategies for cancer management. Advanced materials possess unique structures and tunable physicochemical properties, making them attractive for developing various sensing systems, including electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, and mass spectrometry sensors. Herein, the enhancing mechanisms in various sensing techniques are summarized, regarding the advanced materials chosen. The real-case applications of the material-enhanced biosensors are reviewed, with special emphasis on cancer biomarkers detection. We anticipate that the advanced materials will bring far-reaching implications to clinical biosensing for academic and industrial use.