Affinity-based biosensors in sport medicine and doping control analysis

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Sports Science

Background:

• Affinity-based biosensors (ABBs) are increasingly considered for sports medicine and doping control due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and selectivity.
• These devices utilize reversible interactions for multiple analyses, making them attractive for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List substances and explore the potential of ABBs for their detection.
• To assess the feasibility of ABBs in traditional anti-doping frameworks and their complementary roles.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on affinity-based biosensors and their application to WADA-prohibited substances.
• Analysis of sensor performance metrics, including limits of detection and selectivity, in the context of anti-doping requirements.

Main Results:

• Several proposed ABBs meet WADA's detection limits but face challenges with selectivity, particularly for pseudo-endogenous compounds.
• Matrix effects in real samples and lack of comprehensive data hinder their integration into traditional anti-doping testing.
• ABBs show potential for on-site screening, risk stratification, and physiological monitoring in sports medicine.

Conclusions:

• ABBs are unlikely to replace traditional anti-doping tests soon due to selectivity and matrix effect concerns.
• Their value lies in complementary roles, such as on-site preliminary screening and supporting sports medicine diagnostics.
• Further research is needed to overcome current limitations for broader anti-doping applications.