Issue 28, 2015

Toward point-of-care diagnostics with consumer electronic devices: the expanding role of nanoparticles

Abstract

There is a critical need for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics in health care and a parallel need for similar point-of-need (PON) diagnostics in other sectors. Such technology could have a profoundly positive impact on health, wellness and quality-of-life in both the developed and developing worlds. This very active area of research is converging with another very active area of research—the biomedical applications of nanotechnology—with exciting outcomes. In this review, we describe how nanoparticles facilitate the use of mass-produced consumer electronic devices for POC/PON diagnostic applications. We first highlight the growing need for POC diagnostics; provide a brief overview of clinical tests, biomarkers and lateral flow assays; describe the amenability of consumer electronic devices to POC/PON diagnostics; and summarize the attractive properties of nanoparticle materials in these contexts. Devices of interest include cell phones, smartphones, wearable technology, other CMOS imaging devices, scanners, optical drives/disc players, and strip readers. We continue to describe how nanoparticles can enable and enhance the readout of diagnostic assays with these consumer electronic devices using illustrative examples from the literature. The most utilized nanoparticles include gold nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles, quantum dots, upconversion nanoparticles, polymer or silica nanoparticle composites with other materials, and viral nanoparticles. Given that assays combining the foregoing nanoparticles with consumer electronic devices have almost exclusively utilized optical readout, we further assess the potential for developing nanoparticle-based electrochemical assays with readout through either a smartphone or personal blood glucose meter (for non-glucose biomarkers). The review concludes with our perspective on future research and development in this area, including the role nanoparticles may play in facilitating the emergence of the smartphone as a leading personal health care device.

Graphical abstract: Toward point-of-care diagnostics with consumer electronic devices: the expanding role of nanoparticles

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
29 محرم 1436
Accepted
24 ربيع الثاني 1436
First published
07 جمادى الأولى 1436

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 22256-22282

Author version available

Toward point-of-care diagnostics with consumer electronic devices: the expanding role of nanoparticles

E. Petryayeva and W. R. Algar, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 22256 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA15036H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements