An Overview of the Latest Developments in the Electrochemical Aptasensing of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are becoming a major global health problem. They constitute an incurable diverse group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system. There is an enormous unmet demand worldwide for methods for the early detection of ND biomarkers. The complexity of the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal degeneration as well as the inhomogeneity of the patient population pose a great challenge for the development of early diagnostic tools. Various analytical technologies have been developed to meet this challenge. Among the various approaches reported so far, biosensors are powerful analytical implements that have been applied to detect biomarkers of NDs. Over the past decade, electrochemical aptasensors have been at the forefront of this development not only thanks to their low cost and simple design but also due to advances in nanomaterials modifying the surface of the transducers involved. The design of electrochemical aptasensors for the detection of ND biomarkers such as α-synuclein, amyloid β peptide, tau protein and human cellular prion protein were summarized and compared. Innovative strategies for increasing their sensitivity and selectivity were also pointed out. Undoubtedly, there is still a need for low-cost, fast and easy-to-use systems for the early detection of NDs.