Comprehensive Review of the Application of Aptamer-Based Point-Of-Care Sensors for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is critical for optimizing drug efficacy and safety in precision medicine; however, conventional TDM methods rely on complex laboratory workflows. Consequently, there is an urgent need for fast, simple, and user-friendly technology to achieve point-of-care testing (POCT) for TDM. Aptamer-based sensors (aptasensors) have emerged as promising tools for point-of-care TDM because of their rapid response, high specificity, stability, and cost-effectiveness. This review summarizes the recent advances in aptasensor-based point-of-care TDM, analyzes current challenges, and explores future directions for enhancing clinical implementation. Methods: This comprehensive review examined aptasensor applications in TDM, emphasizing innovations in sensor design, detection limits, and real-world applicability across various drug types. The literature for this review was searched using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering publications up to 2024. Search terms included “aptamer,” “biosensor,” and “drug monitoring.” Relevant studies focusing on the application of aptasensors in point-of-care TDM were included and analyzed. Results: Aptasensors have demonstrated significant potential for point-of-care TDM by offering rapid and accurate drug monitoring. However, key challenges including limitations in scalable fabrication processes, inadequate clinical validation in diverse populations, and environmental interferences affecting sensor robustness remain. Conclusions: Aptasensors hold a transformative potential for advancing point-of-care TDM, offering a pathway for personalized treatment optimization. Future efforts should prioritize rigorous clinical validation and improved stability in actual biological samples to fully realize their role in precision medicine.