Diagnostic methods employing kidney biomarkers clinching biosensors as promising tools

Abstract

Worldwide, there has been an increasing prevalence of kidney disorders for several years. Kidney disorders are characterized by abnormal kidney biomarkers like uric acid, urea, cystatin C, creatinine, kidney injury molecule-1, C-related protein, etc., in the human body. A person suffering from kidney disorders is prone to several other serious health consequences, such as cardiac diseases and renal failure, which can lead to death. However, early diagnosis of kidney disorders requires effective disease management to prevent disease progression. Existing diagnostic techniques used for monitoring kidney biomarker concentration include chromatographic assays, spectroscopic assays, immunoassays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), etc. They also necessitate equipped laboratory infrastructure, specific instruments, highly trained personnel working on these instruments, and monitoring kidney patients. Hence, these are expensive and time-consuming. Since the past few decades, a number of biosensors, like electrochemical, optical, immunosensors, potentiometric, colorimetric, etc., have been used to overcome the drawbacks of conventional and modern techniques. These biosensing systems have many benefits, such as being cost-effective, quick, simple, highly sensitive, specific, requiring a minimum sample amount, reliable, and easy to miniaturize. This review article discusses the uses of effectual biosensors for kidney biomarker detection with their potential advantages and disadvantages. Future research needs to be implicated in developing highly advanced biosensors that must be sensitive, economical, and simple so that they can be used for on-site early detection of kidney biomarkers to assess kidney function.