Point-of-care biosensors for infectious disease diagnosis: recent updates and prospects

Abstract

The ongoing demand for rapid, accurate, accessible diagnostics has significantly increased point-of-care (POC) biosensors. This review provides an overview of diverse biosensors, focusing on their principles, components, detection mechanisms, and applications in infectious disease diagnosis. We explore how these biosensors utilize various transduction techniques-such as current modulation, refractive index shifts, and mechanical resonance to convert biorecognition events into measurable signals. The importance of biosensors in detecting infectious diseases such as COVID-19, HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is highlighted, particularly for early detection in resource-limited settings. However, persistent challenges remain in achieving integrated, miniaturized platforms capable of real-time, multianalyte detection. Additionally, the full potential of biosensors is yet to be realized owing to limited clinical translation, scalability issues, and insufficient integration with digital health technologies. This review identifies these critical areas for future innovation and discusses strategies to increase diagnostic accuracy, accessibility, and global health impact.