A BEU graduate’s scientific achievement related to cancer has received widespread attention worldwide

Amil Aligayev, a physics graduate of Baku Engineering University (BEU) who currently works at the National Centre for Nuclear Research in Poland, has achieved a significant scientific breakthrough in the early detection of lung cancer. Together with researchers from Chinese and Warsaw University of Technology, he developed a highly sensitive dual-mode biosensor capable of detecting hexanal, a reliable biomarker for the disease. This innovative approach makes a significant contribution to the development of the modern scientific field of “breathomics,” which aims to detect lung cancer at an early stage using non-invasive methods. When exposed to hexanal, the biosensor produces a strong Raman signal and turns blue, allowing detection both with laboratory devices and the naked eye. Tests have shown that the biosensor exhibits high sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, long-term stability, and antibacterial activity.

The research team integrated the biosensor into face masks and mesh-based devices and conducted trials on 20 lung cancer patients and 20 healthy individuals. The results demonstrated precise and rapid detection of hexanal in the patients’ breath samples. Additionally, the researchers developed “ColorSeek,” an AI-based color recognition system. Using deep learning methods, this system can analyze color changes from the sensor in real time via smartphones and computers with over 95% accuracy. The research results were published in the Chemical Engineering Journal (DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.168343) under the title “Dual-mode SERS and colorimetric sensor for lung cancer VOC-biomarker detection using hydrogel patches” and have attracted wide attention in the scientific community. The study has also become a trending topic in the media in Poland, China, and several other countries.

Amil Aligayev graduated from BEU with honors and began his academic career at the university’s Department of Physics. His deep interest in condensed matter physics led him to pursue graduate studies abroad. He earned his Master’s degree with distinction from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and received his PhD in 2025 from the same university. For his scientific achievements, he was awarded an “Honorary Credential” (Summa Cum Laude). Currently, Amil Aligayev is a member of the Multiscale Hybrid Modeling of Materials research group at NOMATEN CeO Institute, part of Poland’s National Centre for Nuclear Research. He conducts collaborative research with leading international scientific institutions in China, France, Finland, and the United Kingdom. In addition to his research work, he serves as a Guest Editor for the journal Entropy (MDPI), playing a key role in disseminating advanced scientific studies on water–nanomaterial interactions.