Recent advances in carbohydrate polymer-supported composites for monitoring breast cancer biomarkers: a comprehensive review.

Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The development of highly sensitive and selective biosensors for the accurate detection of BC biomarkers is of critical importance for enabling early diagnosis and timely intervention. Recently, natural carbohydrate polymers (CPs) have emerged as cutting-edge materials for BC detection owing to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. Through synergistic integration with functional nanomaterials, the catalytic activity and sensitivity of the biosensors can be further enhanced. Accordingly, this review critically examines recent advances in CP composite modified biosensors for BC biomarker detection. First, it discusses the pathological characteristics of BC, the pivotal role of conventional BC biomarker detection, and the future prospects of their clinical application, offering relevant strategic insights. Second, it summarizes the core design strategies of electrochemical and optical sensors for BC detection, analyzing their potential for practical integration. Third, it provides a detailed account of the design principles and frontier applications of CP composites over the past decade in detecting BC biomarkers. Finally, it addresses the current limitations of CP composites in biosensing and outlines potential directions for future development. Overall, this review aims to elucidate the potential of natural CP enhanced composites in BC monitoring, foster continuous innovation in this evolving field, and promote their broader application in early cancer diagnosis.