Aptamer-based sensors in healthcare diagnostics

Abstract

Advances in biomedicine and technology have facilitated the detection of molecular biomarkers that indicate the onset or progression of disease, often preceding the clinical manifestation of pathological conditions. The continuous identification and validation of biomarkers have broadened the potential for early disease diagnosis, timely therapeutic intervention, and enhanced clinical outcomes. There is a growing demand for rapid, cost-effective, highly sensitive, and specific analytical platforms capable of accurately detecting biomarkers. Aptasensors have emerged as powerful analytical tools that enable precise, on-site biomarker detection while offering remarkable versatility, stability, and affordability. This review summarizes the historical evolution and fundamental principles of aptamer-based sensors. Applications of aptasensors in healthcare and point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, particularly for the early detection of malignancies, monitoring of chronic disease, and identification of infectious disease, are also discussed. Furthermore, current limitations and future directions of aptasensor development, including their potential for real-time monitoring and high-throughput screening, are explored.