Recent Developments on Optical Aptasensors for the Detection of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines with Advanced Nanostructures

In the realm of immune response, pro-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions. Accurate measurement of these low-molecular-weight proteins is essential for understanding immune function, predicting diseases, and monitoring treatment effects. Optical aptasensors with advanced nanostructures, which utilize aptamers as bio-probes, have emerged as a promising technology for cytokine detection, offering advantages over traditional antibody-based nanobiosensors. Aptamers, single-stranded nucleic acids with high specificity and affinity, enable cost-effective mass production and consistent quality. Optical biosensors incorporating aptamers exhibit stability, resistance to environmental factors, and prolonged functionality. This review explores the current methodologies and advancements in optical aptasensors for cytokine detection, highlighting their potential as robust tools in diagnostics and therapeutics. Specifically, the applications of surface plasmon resonance and fluorescence techniques in aptasensors are discussed, focusing on the innovative approaches used to enhance sensitivity and specificity in cytokine detection. Notable examples of aptasensor designs utilizing nanoparticles, Förster resonance energy transfer, and amplification strategies are presented. These designs demonstrate high affinity, specificity, and improved sensitivity in detecting pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma. Overall, optical aptasensors show great promise in advancing the understanding of cytokine-related disorders and enabling effective interventions. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.