Advances in Optical Aptasensors for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Various Cancer Types

Abstract

Cancer is a life-threatening concern worldwide. Sensitive and early-stage diagnostics of different cancer types can make it possible for patients to get through the best available treatment options to combat this menace. Among several new detection methods, aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) have recently shown promising results in terms of sensitivity, identification, or detection of either cancerous cells or the associated biomarkers. In this mini-review, we have summarized the most recent (2016–2020) developments in different approaches belonging to optical aptasensor technologies being widely employed for their simple operation, sensitivity, and early cancer diagnostics. Finally, we shed some light on limitations, advantages, and current challenges of aptasensors in clinical diagnostics, and we elaborated on some future perspectives.

Advances in Gold Nanoparticles-Based Colorimetric Aptasensors for the Detection of Antibiotics: An Overview of the Past Decade

“…Combining aptamer as BRE with optical bioassays as STE, offer unique advantages to optical aptasensors [39,40]. This kind of aptasensors can be grouped on the basis of their light absorption properties (when they are exposed to different analytes) and luminescence changes [41]. Optical aptasensors are mainly classified into four types including colorimetry, fluorescence, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) [40] (Figure 1A).…”

Recent Advances in Biomedical Photonic Sensors: A Focus on Optical-Fibre-Based Sensing

“…Accordingly, this work’s sensors and detection sensitivity have strong potential for their use in cancer detection, especially for circulating tumour cells responsible for metastasis. Further information regarding optical aptasensors for cancer can be found elsewhere [ 91 ].…”

Aptamer‐based biosensors and application in tumor theranostics

“…The design of fluorescent aptasensors mainly involves fluorophores, dyes, or fluorescent nanomaterials, aptamers, and quenchers 62,63 . Different from colorimetric aptasensors, they are not affected by the background color of the sample and can simultaneously design multiple aptamers in the form of a sensor array for multi‐channel rapid detection 64 .…”

“…The design of fluorescent aptasensors mainly involves fluorophores, dyes, or fluorescent nanomaterials, aptamers, and quenchers. 62,63 Different from colorimetric aptasensors, they are not affected by the background color of the sample and can simultaneously design multiple aptamers in the form of a sensor array for multi-channel rapid detection. 64 Based on the different detection mechanisms of fluorescence signal recovery, they are mainly divided into: fluorescence resonance energy transfer, fluorescence signal amplification, and fluorescence polarization.…”