(Bio)sensors for Medical Diagnostics

A Special Issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418) belonging to the section "Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 3112

Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Research Center for Fundamental Research and Prevention Strategies in Medicine, Research and Development Institute, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500014 Brasov, Romania
2. Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500014 Brasov, Romania
Interests: (bio)analytical methods; biochemistry; electrochemical (bio)sensors; studies of the activity of bioactive compounds in cell cultures; food safety; (tele)monitoring-(tele)diagnosis in life sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 1.5 Km Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Interests: (bio)sensors; bioelectronics; advanced healthcare biomaterials; aptasensors; paper sensors; biomemetics; immunoassays; point-of-care diagnostics

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Biochemistry, Gulab Devi Educational Complex, Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore 05307, Pakistan
Interests: biochemistry; (bio)sensors; analytical techniques; biomaterials; point-of-care devices; diagnostics; food safety

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

(Bio)sensors have emerged as one of the most dynamic and transformative technologies in modern medical diagnostics. By combining biological recognition elements with highly sensitive physicochemical transducers, biosensors enable the rapid, accurate, and often real-time detection of clinically relevant biomarkers. Their development responds to an increasing global need for diagnostic methods that are not only precise but also minimally invasive, cost-effective, and accessible to diverse healthcare settings, from advanced hospitals to remote or resource-limited environments.

We are pleased to invite you to submit original research articles, systematic reviews, and other contributions to this Special Issue focused on the topics proposed below.

The importance of biosensors lies in their potential to fundamentally change how diseases are detected, monitored, and managed. They underpin many established diagnostic tools, as well as emerging technologies like wearable sensors, lab-on-a-chip platforms, and point-of-care testing devices for infectious diseases. Advances in nanotechnology, materials science, and biotechnology continue to expand their capabilities, enabling ultra-sensitivities, multiplex detection, and integration with digital health systems.

The goal of studying (bio)sensors for medical diagnostics is to understand their principles, evaluate their current applications, and explore future directions that could enhance patient outcomes and personalize healthcare.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Sensors and biosensors: Devices that convert biological or chemical interactions into measurable electrical or optical signals.
  • Medical diagnostics: Techniques and tools used to identify diseases or health conditions accurately and efficiently.
  • Biomarker detection: Detection of biological molecules that indicate normal or pathological processes in the body.
  • Point-of-care testing: Rapid diagnostic testing performed near the patient for immediate clinical decisions.
  • Lab-on-a-chip: Miniaturized devices that integrate laboratory functions onto a microchip for fast, low-sample-volume analysis.
  • Wearable health technology: Portable devices that continuously track physiological parameters to support health monitoring.
  • Nanotechnology: Use of nanoscale materials to improve detection, imaging, and targeted medical applications.
  • Signal transduction: Process by which a sensor converts a biological event into a detectable and quantifiable signal.
  • Early disease detection: Identification of illnesses at their earliest stages to improve outcomes and treatment success.
  • Clinical monitoring: Ongoing tracking of vital signs and biomarkers to guide diagnosis, therapy, and patient management.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Mihaela Badea
Dr. Akhtar Hayat
Guest Editors

Dr. Sehrish Bilal
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sensors and biosensors
  • medical diagnostics
  • biomarker detection
  • point-of-care testing
  • lab-on-a-chip
  • wearable health technology
  • nanotechnology
  • signal transduction
  • early disease detection
  • clinical monitoring

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1170 KB  
Article
Perfusion Patterns of Pleura-Based Pulmonary Sarcoma Metastases on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS): A Single-Center Retrospective Pilot Study
by Felix Ragnar Merlin Koenig, Christian Görg, Helmut Prosch, Veronika Vetchy, Anna Hohensteiner, Nikolai A. Gantner, Daria Kifjak, Florian Lindenlaub, Philipp Theodor Funovics, Iris-Melanie Noebauer-Huhmann and Ehsan Safai Zadeh
Diagnostics 2026, 16(11), 1706; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16111706 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 442
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Pleura-based pulmonary nodules in soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) patients remain diagnostically challenging, and entity-specific contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) data are scarce. We aimed to characterize CEUS perfusion patterns of pleura-based STS pulmonary metastases in a pilot cohort. Methods: We investigated a single-center retrospective cohort [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Pleura-based pulmonary nodules in soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) patients remain diagnostically challenging, and entity-specific contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) data are scarce. We aimed to characterize CEUS perfusion patterns of pleura-based STS pulmonary metastases in a pilot cohort. Methods: We investigated a single-center retrospective cohort at a tertiary STS referral center (Dec 2024–Dec 2025). Of 51 consecutive STS patients with suspected pulmonary metastases screened, 32 lacked pleural contact and 6 were excluded for logistical reasons; the remaining 13 underwent standardized CEUS of a pleura-contacting lesion (≥5 mm) visible on B-mode lung ultrasound (B-LUS), with 1 excluded on biopsy (anaplastic lymphoma). The reference standard combined histology, therapy-related size reduction of the index lesion, and/or documented distant metastatic STS. Two readers rated all examinations independently, with adjudication by a third senior reader. Wilson 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and Cohen’s κ were computed. Results: In the 12 analyzed patients (mean age 58.8 ± 17.8 years; 7 male), the index lesion was histologically confirmed in 4 (33.3%). On CEUS, bronchial-arterial (BA) enhancement predominated (10/12; 83.3%, 95% CI 55.2–95.3%) and pulmonary-arterial timing occurred in 2/12 (16.7%). Marked enhancement was present in 9/12 (75.0%), homogeneous in 8/12 (66.7%), and rapid washout (<120 s) in all lesions (12/12; 100%, 95% CI 75.8–100%). Inter-reader agreement was substantial to almost perfect for the diagnostically relevant CEUS perfusion variables (enhancement κ = 0.75; EE κ = 0.80; HE κ = 0.82) and moderate for the descriptive shape variable (Form κ = 0.47). Conclusions: In this selected pilot cohort, pleura-based STS lung metastases most commonly showed BA-dominant enhancement with universal rapid washout. The findings are hypothesis-generating and require validation in larger, prospective multicenter cohorts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Bio)sensors for Medical Diagnostics)
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Review

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26 pages, 2559 KB  
Review
Graphene Oxide (GO) and Gold Nanoparticles (AuNP) Facilitated Electrochemical Biosensing for Lung Cancer Diagnosis
by Rekerayi Chibagidi, Palesa Pamela Seele and Valentine Saasa
Diagnostics 2026, 16(14), 2179; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16142179 - 13 Jul 2026
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Abstract
Early detection of lung cancer remains challenging due to the extremely low concentrations of disease-specific biomarkers, which limit the development of highly sensitive and reliable point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic devices. Electrochemical biosensors integrating graphene oxide (GO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as promising [...] Read more.
Early detection of lung cancer remains challenging due to the extremely low concentrations of disease-specific biomarkers, which limit the development of highly sensitive and reliable point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic devices. Electrochemical biosensors integrating graphene oxide (GO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as promising platforms for the rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of lung cancer biomarkers, enabling more timely diagnosis. Biomarkers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and circulating tumour DNA are increasingly investigated for PoC applications since they can be detected in various biological fluids associated with lung cancer. Nanocomposite materials, particularly GO/AuNP hybrids, provide synergistic advantages by combining the large surface area and abundant functional groups of GO for stable immobilization of biorecognition elements with the excellent conductivity and bioconjugation capability of AuNPs that enhance signal transduction. This review critically discusses key biomarker targets for lung cancer, the properties of GO and Au in biosensing, and the role of AuNP/GO nanocomposites in improving biosensor performance. It further examines the application of electrochemical biosensors for lung cancer biomarker detection, highlighting recent developments. Additionally, the review outlines current challenges limiting clinical translation and PoC implementation, provides recommendations to address these barriers, and discusses future perspectives for improving the detection of low-abundance biomarkers for early lung cancer diagnosis. Ultimately, these technologies seem promising for the development of rapid diagnostic tools equivalent to established platforms such as lateral-flow immunoassays. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Bio)sensors for Medical Diagnostics)
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