A Novel Biosensor Offers Fast and Non-Invasive Detection of Helicobacter Pylori Infection

by Chema Arcos

This innovative nanophotonic device, developed by researchers from ICN2 and the Biomedical Research Networking Centre (CIBER), represents a significant advancement in the design of faster, more accurate and efficient diagnostic methods for gastric infections.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that can cause health problems such as stomach ulcers and, in more serious cases, stomach cancer. It is a highly prevalent pathogen, affecting an estimated more than half of the global population, though most individuals are asymptomatic. Early detection of infection is important to avoid possible complications. However, many available methods can be expensive and inaccurate, or invasive for the patient.

In this context, CSIC Prof. Laura M. Lechuga, Dr. M.-Carmen Estévez and Alejandro Astúa, researchers from the Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group and also members of the CIBER area of Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), have developed an innovative nanophotonic biosensor that offers patients an accurate, rapid and sensitive method of detecting H. pylori. The study, recently published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics, was carried out in the framework of the PYLOC project, a CIBER seed project, in collaboration with scientists from the CIBER area of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD) and Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí.

How does this device work?

Unlike traditional H. pylori detection methods, such as the breath test or antigen-based tests, this device provides a direct, highly sensitive method for detecting the bacterium, even at low bacterial loads. This is achieved through the specific recognition of H. Pylori using specific antibodies that bind to certain bacterial proteins. The device operates by monitoring changes in the interaction of light with the sensor surface at the nanoscale, enabling real-time and label-free detection, which makes the test simpler than other traditional methods. The results confirmed its high sensitivity and accuracy, even in complex samples such as stomach mucosa or faeces.

Overall, this promising diagnostic method could be very useful for patients for whom current methods are ineffective, such as those with chronic digestive problems. Furthermore, it aligns with WHO objectives to provide the majority of the population with access to simple, affordable and effective diagnostic tools for infections.

Reference article:

Astúa, A; Estévez, MC; Ramírez-Lázaro, MJ; Calvet, X; Lario, S; Lechuga, LM. Identification and ultrasensitive quantification of H. pylori infections on gastric and stool human samples with a photonic label-free nanobiosensor. Biosens Bioelectron. (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2025.117459.