Heart Failure Biomarkers BNP and NT-proBNP Detection Using Optical Labels

In the context of the high risk of heart failure (HF), rapid assessment of biomarker levels in patients appears to be a quick and accurate approach to diagnosis and timely treatment. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal fragment of the prohormone BNP (NT-proBNP) are widely used as biomarkers of HF, primarily ventricular dysfunction, for diagnosis, treatment and risk assessment. A major strength of BNP and NT-proBNP is their high negative predictive value: they are useful in exclusion of HF as a cause of non-specific symptoms. In this review we consider the features of the presence of BNP and NT-proBNP in a cocktail of natriuretic peptides in the bloodstream, as well as challenges, skeleton concepts and characteristic methods for BNP and NT-proBNP detection using optical labels. We consider the most important points for analysis and diagnostics, approaches for improving diagnostic value, as well as sensitivity and reproducibility.