A comprehensive look at the current and future technologies suitable for at home detection and management of viruses and virus causing diseases, Part I: point of care detection technologies

Abstract

Home-based point-of-care diagnostic systems have proved to be transformative in the containment of COVID-19 pandemic. They are likely to a critical role in similar pandemics of the future. Some of the systems developed in recent years were used to control the pandemic and many more such systems are at various stages of development and evaluation. Appropriate use of some of the technologies has been shown to yield desired results through early detection and control of the virus. These technologies also assisted attempts to confine people within restricted quarters. This paper takes an outside look at many attempts made around the globe to mold and adopt these technologies to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and other similar outbreaks of the future. In addition to some of the implemented technologies, this paper also looks at potential untapped technologies that have prospective applications in controlling pandemic situations. Among the detection technologies reviewed are electrochemical sensors, microfluidic sensors, droplet collection and detection systems, transmucosal-extraction and detection systems, bi-dimensional graphene sensors, bi-conjugate quantum dot sensors, silicon nanowire sensors, nano-bio hybrid material sensors, and nano-sized cantilever sensors.