Portable Sensing Systems in Biological and Chemical Analyses: A Review of Sensor Technologies, Miniaturized...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Portable sensing systems are vital for on-site biological and chemical analyses, complementing traditional lab methods.
• These systems offer advantages like speed, convenience, cost-effectiveness, and robustness for immediate decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of portable sensing systems as integrated analytical platforms.
• To discuss the diverse recognition elements, sensing technologies, and platform designs relevant to portable sensing.

Main Methods:

• Review of recognition elements (enzymes, antibodies, aptamers, nanomaterials, etc.).
• Exploration of sensing technologies (electrochemical, optical, mass-sensitive, etc.).
• Analysis of platform designs (paper-based devices, lab-on-a-chip, wearables, etc.) and their applications.

Main Results:

• Detailed examination of applications in diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food safety, and more.
• Discussion of critical aspects like sample handling, data processing, machine learning, and validation.
• Identification of obstacles hindering the transition from academic prototypes to industrial products.

Conclusions:

• Future portable sensing requires fully integrated sample-to-result systems, multimodal sensing, AI, and sustainable materials.
• System-level validation under real-world conditions is essential for successful implementation.
• Addressing challenges in reproducibility, stability, and regulatory approval is crucial for market acceptance.