Portable, Rapid, Label‐Free Sensors for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer Biomarkers: An Approach Toward Point‐of‐Care Diagnosis

ABSTRACT Prostate cancer (PCa) is among the most common and fatal malignancies in men. Early diagnosis greatly improves prognosis, but current diagnostic methods like serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) assays, digital rectal examination (DRE), and biopsy are invasive, costly, or lack specificity and sensitivity, emphasizing the need for accurate, non‐invasive alternatives. Biomarkers research beyond PSA targeting PCA3, VEGF, PCAT14, SChLAP1, SPINK1, and various RNAs has expanded to enhance diagnostic precision. However, most protein and RNA detection methods remain laboratory‐bound, hindering translation to point‐of‐care applications, which is crucial for early detection of PCa. This review highlights advances in three portable biosensor classes—electrochemical, field‐effect transistor (FET), and resistive sensors that convert biomolecular interactions into electronic signals. It focuses on (1) nanomaterial‐based transducer layers, which result in enhanced sensitivity, (2) bioreceptors (antibodies, nucleic acid probes) providing specificity, and (3) miniaturized, low‐noise electronics enabling portable and low‐power readouts.