The future in sensing technologies for malaria surveillance: a review of hemozoin-based diagnosis

Abstract

Early and effective malaria diagnosis is vital to control the disease spread and to prevent the emergence of severe cases and death. Currently, malaria diagnosis relies on optical microscopy and immuno-rapid tests; however, these require a drop of blood, are time-consuming, or are not specific and sensitive enough for reliable detection of low-level parasitaemia. Thus, there is an urge for simpler, prompt, and accurate alternative diagnostic methods. Particularly, hemozoin has been increasingly recognized as an attractive biomarker for malaria detection. As the disease proliferates, parasites digest host hemoglobin, in the process releasing toxic haem that is detoxified into an insoluble crystal, the hemozoin, which accumulates along with infection progression. Given its magnetic, optical, and acoustic unique features, hemozoin has been explored for new label-free diagnostic methods. Thereby, herein, we review the hemozoin-based malaria detection methods and critically discuss their challenges and potential for the development of an ideal diagnostic device.