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Review

Bioluminescence in Clinical and Point-of-Care Testing

1
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
2
The Dr. John T. McDonald Foundation Bionanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
3
Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Institute of Medicine, Far Eastern University, NCR, Quezon City 1119, Philippines
4
Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biosensors 2025, 15(7), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15070422
Submission received: 15 May 2025 / Revised: 27 June 2025 / Accepted: 29 June 2025 / Published: 2 July 2025

Abstract

Point-of-care testing (POCT) offers a transformative approach to diagnostics by enabling rapid and accurate results at or near the site of patient care. This is especially valuable in critical care, emergency settings, and resource-limited areas. However, one major limitation of POCT remains its analytical sensitivity, particularly in detecting low concentrations of analytes. To address this, various innovations are being explored, including advanced sensors, signal amplification, and sensitive labels. Among these, bioluminescent proteins have gained attention for their high sensitivity, fast readout, minimal background interference, and simplified instrumentation. Bioluminescence—light emission from biochemical reactions—presents an ideal platform for enhancing POCT sensitivity. In parallel, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), especially structures like ZIF-8, are emerging as valuable materials in biosensing. Their high porosity, tunable surface properties, and ability to host biomolecules make them excellent candidates for improving analyte capture and signal transduction. When integrated with bioluminescent systems, MOFs can stabilize proteins, concentrate targets, and enhance overall assay performance. This review highlights the role of bioluminescent proteins in medical diagnostics and their application in POCT platforms. We also discuss the potential synergy between MOFs and bioluminescence to overcome current sensitivity limitations. Finally, we examine existing challenges and strategies to optimize these technologies for robust, field-deployable diagnostic tools. By leveraging both the natural sensitivity of bioluminescence and the structural advantages of MOFs, next-generation POCT systems can achieve superior performance, driving forward diagnostic accessibility and patient care outcomes.
Keywords: bioluminescence; point-of-care; clinical diagnostics; metal organic frameworks; encapsulation bioluminescence; point-of-care; clinical diagnostics; metal organic frameworks; encapsulation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Reyes, S.; Rodriguez, R.; Dikici, E.; Daunert, S.; Deo, S. Bioluminescence in Clinical and Point-of-Care Testing. Biosensors 2025, 15, 422. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15070422

AMA Style

Reyes S, Rodriguez R, Dikici E, Daunert S, Deo S. Bioluminescence in Clinical and Point-of-Care Testing. Biosensors. 2025; 15(7):422. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15070422

Chicago/Turabian Style

Reyes, Sherwin, Raymarcos Rodriguez, Emre Dikici, Sylvia Daunert, and Sapna Deo. 2025. "Bioluminescence in Clinical and Point-of-Care Testing" Biosensors 15, no. 7: 422. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15070422

APA Style

Reyes, S., Rodriguez, R., Dikici, E., Daunert, S., & Deo, S. (2025). Bioluminescence in Clinical and Point-of-Care Testing. Biosensors, 15(7), 422. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15070422

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