Application of biosensors in research of traditional Chinese medicine: a systematic review

As advanced analytical tools, biosensors combine biological recognition elements with physicochemical transducers, enabling the sensitive and selective detection of target analytes. As research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) continues to deepen and shift toward holistic and functional evaluation, biosensors offer significant promise due to their high sensitivity, strong specificity, high throughput, and rapid response. They are expected to serve as an effective bridge linking the chemical constituents of TCM with their pharmacological activities. This review systematically searched the databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for literature published from 2001 to 2025. The principles, classifications, advantages, and diverse applications of biosensors in TCM research are summarized, encompassing areas such as herb variety identification, active component analysis and screening, target exploration, drug–target affinity determination, quality control, and safety evaluation. Recent technological advances are highlighted, including innovations in development of novel biosensors, microtechnology and integration, and intelligent data processing. Current limitations and potential countermeasures for overcoming them are also discussed. Finally, the prospects and future research directions of biosensors in TCM research are proposed, emphasizing its potential to drive innovation and accelerate the modernization of TCM industry.