Artificial intelligence-assisted smartphone-based sensing for bioanalytical applications: A review

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has received great attention since the concept was proposed, and it has developed rapidly in recent years with applications in many fields. Meanwhile, newer iterations of smartphone hardware technologies which have excellent data processing capabilities have leveraged on AI capabilities. Based on the desirability for portable detection, researchers have been investigating intelligent analysis by combining smartphones with AI algorithms. Various examples of the application of AI algorithm-based smartphone detection and analysis have been developed. In this review, we give an overview of this field, with a particular focus on bioanalytical detection applications. The applications are presented in terms of hardware design, software algorithms, and specific application areas. We also discuss the existing limitations of AI-based smartphone detection and analytical approaches, and their future prospects. The take-home message of our review is that the application of AI in the field of detection analysis is restricted by the limitations of the smartphone's hardware as well as the model building of AI for detection targets with insufficient data. Nevertheless, at this juncture, while bioanalytical diagnostics and health monitoring have set the pace for AI-based smartphone applicability, the future should see the technology making greater inroads into other fields. In relation to the latter, it is likely that the ordinary or average person will play a greater participatory role.