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Biosensors for Detecting Lymphocytes and Immunoglobulins
Pietro Salvo1, Federico M Vivaldi1,2, Andrea Bonini2
1Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Insights
Biosensors offer a promising alternative for detecting lymphocytes and immunoglobulins, crucial for adaptive immunity. This review explores biosensor technologies for reliable, low-cost immune response monitoring at the point-of-care.
Area of Science:
- Immunology and biosensor technology.
Background:
- Lymphocytes (B, T, NK cells) and immunoglobulins are vital for adaptive immunity.
- Current detection methods (flow cytometry, ELISA, impedance) have limitations for point-of-care applications.
- Biosensors present a potential solution for fast, low-cost, and reliable detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review biosensor fabrication methods for detecting lymphocytes and immunoglobulins.
- To discuss various measurement techniques and transducers used in biosensors.
- To highlight the advantages and limitations of current biosensor approaches.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on biosensor design for immune detection.
- Analysis of fabrication materials (antibodies, aptamers, nanomaterials).
- Evaluation of detection techniques (electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric).
Main Results:
- Biosensors can be fabricated using diverse materials and detection principles.
- Electrochemical, optical, and piezoelectric transducers are suitable for biosensing.
- Various configurations exist, each with specific advantages and limitations.
Conclusions:
- Biosensors show potential for point-of-care detection of lymphocytes and immunoglobulins.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations in stability and reproducibility.
- Biosensor technology can advance immune response monitoring.
Abstract:
Lymphocytes (B, T and natural killer cells) and immunoglobulins are essential for the adaptive immune response against external pathogens. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) kits are the gold standards to detect immunoglobulins, B cells and T cells, whereas the impedance measurement is the most used technique for natural killer cells. For point-of-care, fast and low-cost devices, biosensors could be suitable for the reliable, stable and reproducible detection of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes. In the literature, such biosensors are commonly fabricated using antibodies, aptamers, proteins and nanomaterials, whereas electrochemical, optical and piezoelectric techniques are used for detection. This review describes how these measurement techniques and transducers can be used to fabricate biosensors for detecting lymphocytes and the total content of immunoglobulins. The various methods and configurations are reported, along with the advantages and current limitations.
