Biosensors for stem cell-based applications: Current trends and future prospects

Stem cell detection holds immense promise for medical and biological applications, and biosensors emerge as powerful tools for their precise and efficient identification. These highly sensitive analytical devices exploit changes in physical, chemical, or electrical signals to detect and quantify biological substances. This review dives deep into the application of various biosensor types - electrochemical, optical, and magnetic - in identifying stem cells. We comprehensively discuss how these technologies leverage specific biomarkers and unique cellular signatures to distinguish stem cells from other cell types. This opens doors to a multitude of potential applications, ranging from early-stage differentiation monitoring and growth/proliferation tracking to cancer diagnosis and treatment efficacy evaluation. Despite its advantages, pinpointing unique and highly selective stem cell biomarkers remains a crucial challenge. Nevertheless, ongoing research has identified promising candidates like CD133, CD34, and OCT4, paving the way for further advancements in this exciting field.