Biomaterials for biomarker imaging and detection

BACKGROUND: In the realm of biomedical research and clinical practice, the identification and accurate detection of biomarkers have become increasingly critical. Biomarkers serve as key indicators for disease diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and drug efficacy monitoring, playing a pivotal role in advancing personalized medicine. However, the complexity and diversity of biomarkers pose significant challenges to their detection and imaging. Traditional methods, such as immunoassays, nucleic acid detection, and mass spectrometry, often fall short in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more precise and efficient technologies to enhance the detection of biomarkers. AIM OF REVIEW: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in biomaterials for biomarker imaging and detection. It seeks to highlight the critical role of biomarkers in disease diagnosis and management, while exploring the potential of newly developed biomaterials to overcome the limitations of conventional detection methods. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: The review delves into the unique physicochemical properties of biomaterials, such as nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), and biopolymers, which enable highly sensitive, specific, and high-resolution biomarker detection. This review finds that by integrating their molecular recognition mechanisms with advanced imaging technologies, these biomaterials demonstrate significant advantages in detecting biomarkers for major diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and neurodegenerative diseases. For instance, nanoparticle-based probes can detect tumor markers at extremely low concentrations, while QD imaging techniques enable high-resolution imaging at the cellular and tissue levels. Additionally, this review provides an in-depth discussion of the numerous challenges confronting biomaterial-based detection technologies during clinical translation and proposes future research directions. We emphasize the necessity of accelerating the development of innovative materials, optimizing imaging and detection technologies, and facilitating clinical application translation.