Investigation of thymine as a potential cancer biomarker employing tryptophan with nanomaterials as a biosensor

•This study is recognized as the first to directly assess thymine (Thy) as a potential cancer biomarker using tryptophan (Trp) and tryptophan-based nanomaterial sensors.•Through the quenching of tryptophan and tryptophan-based nanomaterials, fluorescence in a physiological buffer, thymine was determined.•The tryptophan and tryptophan/nanomaterials method for determining thy has a linear dynamic range of 10 to 200 M and detection limit of 3.21 µM.•The binding constant (Ka) of thymine with trp and trp-based nanomaterials, as well as the enthalpy (H°) and entropy (S°) change values, were evaluated.•A recovery study was carried out using a human serum sample, the results for thymine determination indicate excellent recovery.