Advanced Biosensors for Probiotic and Gut Microbiota Profiling in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Sensor Design to Clinical Translation
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder strongly associated with dysbiosis and functional disruption of the gut microbiome. Probiotic interventions are increasingly explored to restore microbial homeostasis and support remission maintenance, yet clinical outcomes remain inconsistent due to strain-specific activity, variable engraftment, and the lack of rapid methods to confirm colonization and functional response in real time. This review surveys advanced biosensor technologies for probiotic and gut microbiota profiling in IBD, focusing on the translation pathway from sensor design to clinical deployment. Analytically actionable targets are summarized, including administered probiotic strains with viability assessment, dysbiosis signatures, microbiota-derived metabolites, and host-response surrogates of inflammation and barrier dysfunction. Key biorecognition and selectivity strategies are discussed across antibodies, aptamers, peptides, lectins, phage-derived binders, nucleic-acid recognition, and synthetic receptors such as molecularly imprinted polymers, alongside interfacial chemistry and antifouling designs required for complex clinical matrices. Electrochemical and optical platforms are explained with emphasis on enrichment-enabled workflows, multiplex architectures, analytical figures of merit, and standardization needs for quantitative profiling. Finally, clinical translation opportunities are mapped to use-cases, including adherence confirmation, colonization tracking, relapse-risk monitoring, and therapy stratification, and key barriers and future directions are identified toward clinically actionable, home-adjacent microbiota sensing ecosystems. Reviews advanced biosensors for probiotic and gut microbiota profiling in IBD. Highlights strain-resolved detection, viability assessment, and dysbiosis-linked biomarkers. Covers electrochemical and optical platforms for rapid, near-patient analysis. Discusses selectivity engineering, antifouling interfaces, and multiplexed sensing strategies. Explores clinical translation for adherence monitoring, relapse-risk assessment, and therapy stratification. Reviews advanced biosensors for probiotic and gut microbiota profiling in IBD. Highlights strain-resolved detection, viability assessment, and dysbiosis-linked biomarkers. Covers electrochemical and optical platforms for rapid, near-patient analysis. Discusses selectivity engineering, antifouling interfaces, and multiplexed sensing strategies. Explores clinical translation for adherence monitoring, relapse-risk assessment, and therapy stratification.