A review on selective and sensitive application of biosensors in the healthcare sector

Biosensors are transformative tools in the medical and biomedical fields, enabling precise, efficient, and real-time detection of analytes critical for diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring. This review explores five key biosensor types - nanomaterial-based, enzyme-based, antibody-based, aptamer-based, and cell-based - focusing on their working principles, detection ranges, detection limits, and methodologies. Nanomaterial-based biosensors harness nanomaterials’ unique properties for unparalleled sensitivity, while enzyme-based systems ensure catalytic precision and stability. Exceptional specificity is achieved through antibody-based systems for detecting protein biomarkers, and aptamer-based designs add programmability, enabling selective binding to diverse targets such as small molecules and nucleic acids. Additionally, cell-based biosensors replicate complex biological systems, facilitating dynamic, real-time analysis of intricate processes, making these technologies indispensable across diverse biomedical applications. Collectively, these biosensors leverage distinct mechanisms to address diverse biomedical challenges. By analyzing their operational features, strengths, limitations, and innovation potential, this review underscores their vital role in advancing precision medicine and biomedical research, inspiring new solutions to emerging healthcare challenges.