Vajrala et al. (2026)
- Authors: Anusha Vajrala, Manik R. Reddy, Ryan C. Bailey
- Institutes: Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Publisher: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
- Link: DOI
Summary
This review highlights a critical shift in diagnostic technology from single-molecule testing to high-throughput multiplexed biosensors capable of capturing the complexity of conditions like ME/CFS and Long COVID. By moving beyond lab-based proof-of-concepts toward clinical deployment, these technologies offer the potential for faster, more accurate, and accessible diagnostic tools for patients with multi-systemic illnesses. This progress is essential for identifying biomarkers that can finally validate patient experiences and guide personalized treatment strategies.
What was researched?
The research examines the transition of multiplexed protein biosensing technologies from laboratory research to clinical implementation, specifically targeting complex infection-associated chronic conditions.
Why was it researched?
Diseases such as ME/CFS and Long COVID lack single definitive biomarkers, requiring the simultaneous detection of multiple immune and metabolic signatures to achieve accurate diagnosis and patient stratification.
How was it researched?
The authors reviewed emerging diagnostic platforms, including silicon photonic microring resonators and automated liquid-handling workstations, comparing their sensitivity, speed, and sample requirements against current gold standards like Luminex.
What has been found?
Newer biosensor designs, such as Liquid-phase Interference Tomography (LIT), demonstrate sensitivity improvements of two orders of magnitude over existing methods. These systems can reduce incubation times from several hours to 15 minutes while requiring significantly smaller sample volumes.
Discussion
The primary challenges for clinical deployment include ensuring analytical robustness across diverse patient populations and navigating the regulatory hurdles for multi-target diagnostic panels. The review emphasizes the need for automated, low-cost systems that can be integrated into existing healthcare infrastructures.
Conclusion & Future Work
Multiplexed protein diagnostics are reaching a level of maturity where they can realistically be deployed for complex conditions. Future efforts must focus on large-scale clinical validation to establish these biosensors as standard tools for managing post-infectious illnesses.