Microfluidic Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Multi-Disease Detection Using Optical Techniques: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Modern lifestyles contribute to a rise in multiple co-occurring diseases.
• Existing point-of-care devices (POCD) typically diagnose only one condition.
• There is a significant need for economical, portable diagnostic tools yielding rapid, accurate results from small sample volumes.

Approach:

• This review focuses on microfluidic-based point-of-care devices (POCD) for multi-disease detection.
• It examines various optical techniques, including fluorescence, absorbance, and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR).
• The study addresses the gap in literature regarding comprehensive reviews of multi-disease detection POCD.

Key Points:

• Multi-disease detection in a single POCD offers an efficient diagnostic platform.
• Optical methods like SPR, fluorescence, and absorbance are crucial for advanced POCD.
• Microfluidics enables the miniaturization and integration required for sophisticated POCD.

Conclusions:

• This review provides valuable insights into the current state and functionality of multi-disease detection POCD.
• It serves as a resource for future researchers and manufacturers in developing advanced diagnostic tools.
• The integration of optical techniques with microfluidic POCD is key to addressing the challenge of diagnosing multiple diseases simultaneously.