Dual-mode aptasensors with cross validation capacity for reliability enhancement and analytical assurance

Aptasensors leverage the binding affinity of aptamers toward specific targets and employ transducers to convert these biological interactions into detectable signals. These sensors offer a widespread application for on-site detection primarily due to their high sensitivity and rapid response characteristics. However, for aptasensors with single detection mode, the reliability of the detection results cannot be verified in time. The emerging dual-mode aptasensors integrate distinct detection modes and output signals, and the detection values obtained from dual modes can be cross validated and compared, demonstrating significant advantages for highly reliable detection and analytical assurance. We discuss the design principles, fabrication techniques, and notable applications of dual-mode aptasensors while also highlighting challenges and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. By combining the specificity of aptamer-based recognition with the advantages of multiple detection modes, these innovative aptasensors offer an exciting avenue for overcoming the limitations of traditional single-mode sensing platforms. •Recent advances in different types of dual-mode aptasensors for various target detection are summarized comprehensively.•The working principles and practical applications of dual-mode aptasensors in various fields are introduced systematically.•The challenges and future directions in this rapidly evolving field are presented and discussed.