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Pregnancy-Test-Style Borophene Sensor Boosts Endometriosis Biomarker Detection Fivefold

Penn State researchers are gearing up for clinical trials to validate the strips for potential home use.

A woman sitting on a sofa experiencing stomach pain and stress.
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Overview

  • The strip binds HMGB1 proteins from menstrual effluent via antibodies fixed on atomically thin borophene nanosheets.
  • Water-based synthesis yields pristine, biodegradable borophene without using harsh organic solvents.
  • The test successfully detected HMGB1 at low concentrations, which is vital for early-stage or asymptomatic endometriosis screening.
  • The research appeared on the July 17 cover of ACS Central Science after clinical samples confirmed significantly elevated HMGB1 levels in patients’ menstrual blood.
  • The team is preparing larger clinical trials and exploring embedding the sensor into menstrual products for discreet home monitoring.