Paper-Based Applications for Bacteria/Virus

Abstract

Point of care (POC) devices enable immediate diagnosis and treatment in settings where equipped facilities, trained expertise and organized transportation are lacking. Epidemics require rapid treatment to deter the spread of diseases. Thus, POC devices can be used to rapidly diagnose the disease, without the need for trained personnel or expensive equipment. Paper is an excellent option for POC applications, mainly due to its physical and chemical properties and cost. Paper has been used in various forms to detect proteins and nucleic acids from pathogens, as they are the most commonly targeted biomolecules for the detection of infectious diseases. Due to their specificity, a diverse range of biomolecules could be detected using methods such as ELISA, gold nanoparticles and electrochemistry. In spite of the aforementioned advantages, instability and cross-reactivity in protein detection and the complexity of nucleic acid detection deter the rapid replacement of conventional diagnostic methods. Thus, in this chapter, we present key technical progress in paper-based POC devices, identify major functional components and provide insight into important challenges faced to produce optimal diagnostic devices.