Li Hengxuan, Yang Qiuxia, Li Xiaodong, Fu Xiaoyi, Li Jianhua, Zhang Yanjun, Tan Weihong, Wang Peng
Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China.
Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Nucleic Acids, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, P. R. China.
Nanoscale Horiz. 2025 Jul 21;10(8):1575-1596. doi: 10.1039/d5nh00098j.
Infectious diseases remain a major challenge to public health. The accurate and timely detection of pathogens responsible for these diseases is essential for controlling their spread, supporting clinical diagnosis, and enabling the application of appropriate therapies. Traditionally, the antibody-based assay has been the primary method for pathogen detection. However, recent advancements in aptamer-based technologies have initiated a transformative shift in diagnostic approaches. Aptamer-based sensors (aptasensors) are characterized by lower production costs and greater flexibility, making them compatible with various detection techniques. This broad applicability facilitates multifaceted, high-throughput applications, significantly improving the capacity to monitor and detect infectious diseases. In this review, we introduce the pathogenic mechanisms and characteristics of pathogens, provide an overview of recent advancements in the development of aptasensors for pathogen detection and highlight their versatility in identifying various infectious disease pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms. We systematically categorize aptasensors according to their detection mechanisms, including colorimetry, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), electrochemistry and incorporation of field-effect transistors (FETs). We further demonstrate how these platforms leverage pathogen-specific biological features to achieve ultrasensitive and rapid diagnostics. Further optimization and validation of aptasensor platforms are anticipated to accelerate their clinical translation and industrialization. Advancing these innovative technologies will be crucial to meeting the growing demand for rapid, accurate and reliable pathogen detection across diverse clinical and environmental conditions, ultimately strengthening the ability to respond effectively to infectious disease threats.
传染病仍然是公共卫生面临的重大挑战。准确及时地检测出引发这些疾病的病原体对于控制其传播、支持临床诊断以及实现适当治疗的应用至关重要。传统上，基于抗体的检测方法一直是病原体检测的主要手段。然而，基于适配体技术的最新进展引发了诊断方法的变革性转变。基于适配体的传感器（适配体传感器）具有生产成本较低和灵活性更高的特点，使其能够与各种检测技术兼容。这种广泛的适用性促进了多方面的高通量应用，显著提高了监测和检测传染病的能力。在本综述中，我们介绍了病原体的致病机制和特征，概述了用于病原体检测的适配体传感器开发的最新进展，并强调了它们在识别各种传染病病原体（包括病毒、细菌、寄生虫和其他微生物）方面的多功能性。我们根据其检测机制对适配体传感器进行系统分类，包括比色法、荧光法、化学发光法、表面增强拉曼光谱法（SERS）、表面等离子体共振法（SPR）、电化学法以及场效应晶体管（FET）的结合。我们进一步展示了这些平台如何利用病原体特异性生物学特征实现超灵敏和快速诊断。预计对适配体传感器平台的进一步优化和验证将加速其临床转化和产业化。推进这些创新技术对于满足在各种临床和环境条件下对快速、准确和可靠的病原体检测不断增长的需求至关重要，最终增强有效应对传染病威胁的能力。
