Enzymes as Diagnostic Tools

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of critical diseases and their appropriate treatment are the primary factors that promote optimal clinical outcomes and general public health. Enzymes have remarkable biocatalytic properties, and because of this, they are extensively used in diagnostics of various diseases. Many enzymes are preferred markers for the detection of various diseases such as jaundice, myocardial infarction, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and so forth. Enzymes provide insights into various diseases by diagnosis, prognosis, and assessment of response therapy. Enzyme biosensors can also be used as an analytical tool for the diagnosis of widespread diseases. A number of enzyme biosensors have been constructed and used for the diagnosis of a wide assay of diseases. Despite clinical necessity, the commercialization of biosensors from research laboratories to the clinical diagnostics industry is still lacking, with a few exceptions, such as glucose, lactate, and cholesterol biosensors. This chapter describes the potential applications of enzymes, enzyme-based biosensors, and ELISA as diagnosis tools for various diseases.