Recent developments in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy-based immuno (apta) assays for cardiac troponin detection:...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Cardiac troponin (cTn) is a critical biomarker for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a major global health concern.
• Current diagnostic methods require timely and accurate results, highlighting the need for effective point-of-care testing (POCT) solutions.
• Existing POCT requirements include speed, cost-efficiency, ease of use, portability, and high accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based immunoassays and aptasensors for cardiac troponin (cTn) detection.
• To evaluate the suitability of SERS assays for point-of-care testing (POCT) applications.
• To identify areas for improvement in SERS assays to meet stringent POCT criteria.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on SERS-based immuno(apta)assays for cTn detection.
• Analysis of various detection strategies and integrated platforms (e.g., microfluidics, paper-based devices).
• Assessment of assay performance metrics relevant to POCT feasibility.

Main Results:

• SERS assays demonstrate significant potential for sensitive and specific cTn detection.
• Integration with microfluidic and paper-based platforms enhances SERS assay suitability for POCT.
• Various detection strategies and platforms are being explored to optimize SERS performance.

Conclusions:

• SERS-based assays are a promising technology for developing next-generation cTn POCT devices.
• Further optimization is needed to fully meet the demands of rapid, cost-effective, and accurate clinical decision-making at the point of care.
• This review provides insights for designing future SERS diagnostic assays for AMI.