Amalgamation of biosensors and nanotechnology in disease diagnosis: Mini-review

Abstract

In order to determine the health status of people and provide the most appropriate treatment, rapid and accurate diagnosis is required. Recently all the clinical analysis is piloted in specialized laboratories which require specific and automated instruments. The pre-diagnosis of any disease is important in effective treatment and it becomes a lifesaving option. The conventional disease diagnostic methods require highly skilled labor, use expensive chemicals and are time consuming. They also suffer from problems like less sensitivity and specificity. Biosensors can help address these problems and provide specific, fast diagnosis with low cost, ease of use and portability. Biosensors are instruments which have a capability to detect a biological compound like nucleic acids and proteins. They may be optical, piezoelectric, and electrochemical. This review discusses the role of various biosensors in disease detection and diagnosis. Use of different nanostructured materials in biosensors is also being reviewed. These devices demonstrate appropriate sensitivity, specificity and efficient diagnosis.