Point-of-Care Devices for Therapeutic, Medical and Environmental Applications

Point-of-care testing (POCT) or Point-of-use (POU) devices or technologies are defined as testing aids that are capable for onsite use or testing. The key advantages of POCT are low sample volume, quick onsite diagnosis, high accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. POCT has the potential and the benefits to facilitate better health care management by rapid routine diagnosis and monitoring. To reach this goal, several researchers as well as the healthcare industry over a few years have conducted cutting edge research to bring science to technology by developing smart diagnostic devices capable of performing as per patient profiles and make personalized health care possible. Over the time, advancements in nanoscience and technology have enabled the development of smart, miniaturized, and portable diagnostic devices. Device miniaturization has made it possible to develop and accomplish a myriad of POC devices with applications ranging from medical diagnosis, healthcare monitoring to environmental sensing. This thesis aims to utilize emerging micro- & nano- technology and explore signal transduction mechanism to develop POC based devices, and explore their utilities for therapeutic, medical, and environmental sensing applications. The development of POC diagnostic platforms for rapid and ultra-sensitive diagnosis or for conducting on-field testing assays requires significant efforts and a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct collaborative research oriented across many technology areas. By combining engineering architectures and by utilizing the previously recognized detection assays we developed effective POC sensors in line with the ASSURED (affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid and robust, equipment-free and deliverable to end users) criteria