Strategies for sensitivity enhancement of point-of-care devices

Abstract

Point-of-care (POC) technology reduces the time required for diagnosis at a reduced cost to facilitate early treatment, continuous monitoring, and prevention of fatal outcomes. Biosensors are the key to the development of reliable and accurate POC devices as they are capable of detecting clinical biomarkers based on bio-recognition events. Paper-based microfluidics and lateral flow assays (LFAs) are the most commonly used techniques for the development of POC devices. Electrochemical biosensors provide high sensitivity and reproducibility in comparison to optical biosensors. Sensitivity enhancement of POC devices is imperative to lower their detection limit for improved analysis of target biomarkers at low concentrations. In this review, we have discussed the need for sensitivity enhancement in POC devices. Various sensitivity enhancement strategies such as physical, chemical, electrochemical, nanomaterial, nucleic acid, enzymatic, label-based, etc. are discussed along with numerous examples. The role of biosensors in the sensitivity enhancement of POC devices is also described herein. We have illustrated the relationship between sensitivity and the limit of detection of POC devices. Several sensitivity enhancement strategies that have been either adopted or have the potential to be realized for POC devices have been summarized in tabular form. In terms of future perspectives, the sensitivity enhancement of POC devices for the detection of important biomarkers is yet to be comprehended copiously amid the rising market for POC devices.