Biomarker detection for disease diagnosis using cost-effective microfluidic platforms.
Sharma T Sanjay1, Guanglei Fu, Maowei Dou
1Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave, El Paso, Texas 79968, USA. xli4@utep.edu.
The Analyst
|July 15, 2015
Summary
Low-cost microfluidic devices offer rapid, early disease diagnosis, crucial for low-resource settings. These point-of-care innovations are vital for managing infectious diseases and cancer globally.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Point-of-Care Diagnostics
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Conventional diagnostic methods are often inaccessible in low-resource settings due to high costs and complex equipment.
- Early disease detection, particularly for infectious diseases and cancer, is critical for reducing mortality rates.
- There is a significant need for accessible, low-cost diagnostic tools for timely biomarker detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in microfluidic platforms for disease biomarker detection.
- To highlight cost-effective microfluidic devices for diagnosing infectious diseases and cancer in resource-limited areas.
- To discuss the potential of microfluidics in point-of-care diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Review of various microfluidic platforms, including polymer and paper-based designs.
- Description of common fabrication techniques for microfluidic devices.
- Analysis of diverse detection strategies: colorimetric, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, electrochemiluminescence (ECL), and electrochemical detection.
Main Results:
- Microfluidics enables simple, rapid, and low-cost disease diagnosis.
- Various microfluidic platforms and detection methods show promise for biomarker analysis.
- Significant progress has been made in developing microfluidic devices for infectious disease and cancer detection.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic devices represent a promising solution for point-of-care diagnostics in low-resource settings.
- Further development is needed to overcome current limitations and enhance future prospects.
- These technologies can significantly improve early disease detection and patient outcomes globally.
