Fırat University students develop cancer screening device via breath analysis

Three students from Fırat University in Elazığ, Turkey, have developed a portable electrochemical biosensor designed to perform preliminary cancer screenings through breath analysis. The project, known as Nefsense, was led by physics student Eren Akdeniz, software engineering student Ömer Serdar Kayabaşı, and physics student Mehmet Mustafa Ataş, under the academic guidance of Prof. Dr. Canan Aksu Canbay and technical guidance of Prof. Dr. Hamdi Soner Altundoğan.

The device operates by detecting molecular compounds in breath, specifically targeting biomarkers such as isoprene and acetone, which are associated with conditions like lung cancer and diabetes. The system utilizes molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensors and a superhydrophobic nano-structured coating to enhance detection capacity by capturing target compounds in a liquid phase.

The Nefsense project received the Excellence Seal from TÜBİTAK BiGG Investment 2026, distinguishing it from approximately 2,844 other applications. The team has established the company Cellsway Biyoteknoloji A. Ş. and aims to complete the device for integration into the healthcare system within approximately one year.