Recent advances in aptamer-based biosensors for potassium detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Potassium ion (K+) homeostasis is vital for physiological functions, with imbalances leading to severe health conditions like hyperkalemia and hypokalemia.
• Accurate and rapid K+ detection is essential for clinical diagnostics and patient management.
• Aptamer-based biosensors are emerging as promising tools for sensitive and specific K+ quantification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of aptamer-based biosensors for potassium ion (K+) detection.
• To explore various signal generation strategies employed in these biosensors.
• To evaluate the analytical performance and identify challenges and future directions for K+ aptasensors.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on aptamer-based biosensors for K+ detection.
• Categorization of biosensors based on signal transduction mechanisms (electrochemical, FET, nanopore, colorimetric, fluorescent).
• Analysis of factors influencing biosensor efficiency, including aptamer properties, regeneration, and linker strategies.

Main Results:

• Aptamer-based biosensors demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity for K+ detection.
• Diverse signal generation strategies offer various advantages for K+ sensing applications.
• Key factors influencing performance include aptamer selection, immobilization techniques, and assay conditions.

Conclusions:

• Aptamer-based biosensors represent a significant advancement in K+ detection technology.
• Addressing current challenges in stability, reusability, and real-world applicability is crucial for clinical translation.
• Future developments may focus on integrated systems and enhanced signal amplification for improved K+ monitoring.