Current Progresses in the Development of Biosensors for the Diagnosis of Neglected Tropical Diseases

The World Health Organization classifies neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in order to highlight the impact of these diseases on public health and as a tool to eradicate them. Due to its risk to human health, especially in the last decade, several publications have been dedicated to the proposal of alternative diagnosis for NTDs. The rapid detection of these diseases is essential for the early initiation of treatment and, thus, allows the reduction of mortality and improves the quality of life of patients. However, the conventional techniques used to detect NTDs are expensive, time-consuming and require more sophisticated equipment in the laboratory, which hinders analyzes to be performed in situ. In light of this context, researchers have been working on the application of biosensors to overcome the current problems. The results found have been promising, as the biosensors exhibited low detection limits with high selectivity and the possibility of performance in miniaturized / portable systems. This technology combines the specificity of biological probes with the sensitivity and stability of several groups of transducers (mainly electrochemical and optical ones). In the present manuscript, we reviewed the recent advances in the field of biosensors to detect some of the main pathogens causing NTDs worldwide (Zika, dengue, schistosomiasis, malaria, snakebite envenoming, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease).