Emerging biosensor-based methodologies and strategies for leishmaniases: trends, technologies, and translational...

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Leishmaniases are parasitic diseases with diverse clinical presentations, necessitating accurate diagnostics.
• Current diagnostic methods for leishmaniasis suffer from low sensitivity, specificity, complexity, and high costs.
• Rapid and specific parasite detection is crucial for effective leishmaniasis control and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of traditional diagnostic methods for leishmaniasis.
• To critically review recent advancements in electrochemical and optical biosensing platforms for Leishmania detection up to July 2025.
• To highlight the potential of biosensor technologies in improving leishmaniasis diagnosis and treatment evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on traditional diagnostic techniques for leishmaniasis.
• In-depth analysis of recent research on electrochemical and optical biosensors for Leishmania detection.
• Synthesis of information on biosensor performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, speed, cost).

Main Results:

• Traditional methods present significant limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and practicality.
• Electrochemical and optical biosensors demonstrate high sensitivity, specificity, and rapid detection capabilities for Leishmania parasites.
• Biosensors show promise for evaluating anti-Leishmania drugs and detecting parasites in clinical samples.

Conclusions:

• Biosensor technologies represent a significant advancement over conventional methods for leishmaniasis diagnosis.
• Advanced biosensing platforms offer potential for improved real-world effectiveness in disease control.
• Further development and implementation of biosensors are crucial to address current challenges in leishmaniasis management.