SOUTH KOREA — A research team led by Professor Jinsung Park of the Department of Biomechatronic Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University developed an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting early-stage liver fibrosis using a small amount of blood. The findings, published online on July 6, 2026, in the journal Chemical Engineering Journal, describe a diagnostic platform named FIB-EIS that could offer a less invasive and more accessible alternative to current fibrosis detection methods.

The FIB-EIS platform consists of a carbon electrode coated with gold nanoparticles, onto which antibodies that bind to the PICP protein are attached. When PICP in the blood binds to these antibodies, it alters the electrical impedance of the sensor surface, allowing the device to detect even minute concentrations of the biomarker. The system demonstrated high sensitivity, accurately measuring PICP levels as low as 0.81 pg/mL.

In clinical validation using blood samples from actual patients, FIB-EIS distinguished between healthy individuals and those with liver fibrosis with 95.24% sensitivity and 100% specificity. These results suggest the biosensor could reliably identify early fibrosis without the need for more invasive or expensive procedures currently in use.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic condition in which liver tissue gradually hardens due to the accumulation of scar tissue. The disease often produces no outward symptoms in its early stages, making timely diagnosis challenging. However, if detected early, liver fibrosis can frequently be reversed through lifestyle changes or medication, underscoring the importance of accessible screening tools.

Traditional diagnostic approaches have relied primarily on liver biopsy or costly imaging tests. Liver biopsy involves inserting a needle directly into the liver to extract tissue for analysis, a procedure that carries risks such as bleeding or infection and is often avoided unless absolutely necessary. Imaging techniques like elastography or MRI are less invasive but remain expensive and are not widely available in primary care settings.

The research team focused on PICP—a protein released into the bloodstream as the liver hardens—as a key indicator of disease progression. PICP is produced alongside the buildup of collagen in liver tissue and serves as a biomarker indicating how actively fibrosis is advancing. By targeting this specific protein, the FIB-EIS biosensor provides a direct biochemical signal of fibrotic activity.

The project was a collaborative effort involving Professor Pil-Soo Sung of the College of Medicine at the Catholic University of Korea and Professor Si-Hyun Bae, President of Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital. The team also included co-first authors Dr.

Juhyung Park, Researcher Dayoung Jang, and Dr. Chihyun Kim from Sungkyunkwan University. Their interdisciplinary approach combined engineering, medical expertise, and clinical resources to refine the biosensor’s design and validate its performance.

“If this technology can be further developed into a compact diagnostic device usable even at local clinics, we hope it will help many people detect and manage liver disease before it progresses,” Park said.

The research was supported by multiple funding programs from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Specific initiatives backing the work included the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program, the Mid-Career Researcher Program, the Post-Doc Growth Program, the Sejong Science Fellowship, and the Physician-Scientist Training Program.

Liver fibrosis affects millions globally and often progresses silently to cirrhosis or liver failure if undetected. Current diagnostic barriers—namely invasiveness, cost, and limited accessibility—delay intervention during the reversible phase of the disease. The FIB-EIS biosensor addresses these challenges by using a minimally invasive blood sample and delivering rapid, precise results, potentially enabling widespread screening in routine clinical settings.

The platform’s high specificity eliminates false positives in distinguishing healthy individuals from fibrosis patients, while its ability to detect picogram-level concentrations of PICP offers unprecedented sensitivity for early-stage diagnosis. If successfully commercialized, the technology could improve outcomes for at-risk populations by facilitating timely, non-invasive monitoring.