Advancements in Cortisol Detection: From Conventional Methods to Next-Generation Technologies for Enhanced Hormone...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Cortisol, a key hormone from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, exhibits a circadian rhythm crucial for stress response.
• Disrupted cortisol secretion patterns lead to chronic elevation, contributing to serious health issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders.
• Current diagnostic methods (mass spectroscopy, immunoassay) are lab-bound, costly, time-consuming, and fail to capture cortisol's dynamic biorhythm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of cortisol detection methods, from traditional assays to advanced biosensors.
• To highlight the importance of continuous and personalized cortisol monitoring for managing stress-related conditions.
• To discuss emerging technologies and their potential to overcome limitations of current diagnostic approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on cortisol detection and biosensor technology.
• Analysis of traditional laboratory-based quantification techniques (mass spectroscopy, immunoassay).
• Exploration of novel biosensor components (aptamers, MIPs) and integrated technologies (microfluidics, wearable electronics, quantum dots).

Main Results:

• Decentralized cortisol monitoring biosensors are emerging as alternatives to traditional methods.
• New capture molecules and technologies promise improved sensitivity, specificity, and rapid/continuous measurement capabilities.
• Despite advancements, a need persists for quantitative, rapid/continuous cortisol tests for personalized medicine.

Conclusions:

• Advancements in biosensor technology, including aptamers, MIPs, microfluidics, and wearable electronics, are paving the way for improved cortisol monitoring.
• Synergistic combinations of these technologies can address the need for low-volume, sensitive, and rapid cortisol tests.
• The future of cortisol diagnostics lies in rapid and continuous monitoring devices that support a personalized medicine approach to stress management.