Microfluidic device: A versatile biosensor platform to multiplex aptamer-based detection of malaria biomarkers

Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a dominant infectious disease that affects Africa than the rest of the world, considering its associated cases and death rates. It's a febrile illness that produces several reliable biomarkers, for example, P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH), P. falciparum Plasmodium glutamate dehydrogenase (PfGDH), and P. falciparum histidine-rich proteins (HRP-II) in blood circulatory system that can easily be employed as targets in rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). In recent times, several DNA aptamers have been developed via SELEX technology to detect some specific malaria biomarkers (PfLDH, PvLDH, HRP-II, PfGDH) in a biosensor mode with good binding affinity properties to overcome the trend of cross-reactivity, limited sensitivity and stability problems that have been observed with immunodiagnostics. In this review, we summarized existing diagnostic methods and relevant biomarkers to suggest promising approaches to develop sensitive and species-specific multiplexed diagnostic devices enabling effective detection of malaria in complex biological matrices and surveillance in the endemic region.