DNA aptamer based detection of thyroid stimulating hormone for point of care testing

Thyroid stimulating hormone remains the central biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of hypothyroidism, yet its measurement continues to face challenges related to assay harmonization, matrix effects, and limited accessibility outside centralized laboratories. These limitations have renewed interest in alternative biorecognition strategies that can support robust and decentralized testing. DNA aptamers have emerged as promising candidates due to their chemical stability, reproducible synthesis, and compatibility with diverse sensing platforms. This review summarizes recent advances in DNA aptamer selection and computational modeling approaches relevant to thyroid stimulating hormone detection, with particular emphasis on strategies that improve binding performance and translational potential. In addition, the implications of aptamer-based recognition for point of care testing are discussed from both clinical and bioengineering perspectives, including analytical performance requirements and integration into portable diagnostic systems. Together, these developments underscore the potential role of DNA aptamers in advancing accessible and reliable point of care diagnostics for hypothyroidism while underscoring the need for rigorous validation in clinically relevant settings.