Molecular diagnosis is the field that aims to develop nucleic-acid-based analytical methods for biological markers and gene expression assessments by combining laboratory medicine and molecular genetics. As it gradually becomes a clinical reality, molecular diagnosis could benefit from improvements resulting from thorough studies that could enhance the accuracy of these methods. The application of magnetic particles in molecular diagnosis tools has led to tremendous breakthroughs in terms of specificity, sensitivity, and discrimination in bioassays. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight the principles involved in the implementation of magnetic particles for sample preparation and targeted analyte isolation, purification, and extraction. Furthermore, the most recent advancements in the area of cancer and infectious disease diagnosis are presented, with an emphasis on screening and early stage detection.
Keywords: biological markers; cancer; gene expression; infectious disease; magnetic particles; molecular diagnostics; molecular genetics.