ABSTRACT
The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has drawn great attention to vulnerable people affected by major diseases. Among them, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent disease. However, a long-standing challenge is to achieve early diagnosis of AD by detecting biomarkers such as amyloid beta (Aβ42), thus avoiding the labor of specialized hospital personnel and the high cost of imaging examinations using positron emission tomography. In this paper, we report a straightforward approach to realize a non-invasive lab-around fiber (LaF) optical sensor for AD biomarker detection, which is based on a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) combined with a nanoscale metallic thin film. We successfully demonstrated the detection of Aβ42 in complex biological matrices with a detection limit of 5 pg/mL. Therefore, our TFBG-SPR biosensor platform enables large-scale early disease screening and has great potential for clinical applications in early AD diagnosis. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The need to sense and track in real time through sustainable and multifunctional labels is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, where the simultaneous measurement of body temperature and the fast tracking of people is required. One of the big challenges is to develop effective low-cost systems that can promote healthcare provision everywhere and for that, smarter and personalized Internet of things (IoT) devices are a pathway in large exploration, toward cost reduction and sustainability. Using the concept of color-multiplexed quick response (QR) codes, customized smart labels formed by two independent layers and smart location patterns provide simultaneous tracking and multiple synchronous temperature reading with maximum sensitivity values of 8.5% K-1 in the physiological temperature range, overwhelming the state-of-the-art optical sensor for healthcare services provided electronically via the internet (eHealth) and mobile sensors (mHealth).
ABSTRACT
Thanks to a general multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach, during the last few decades there have been huge advances in the diagnostic field. In particular, the miniaturization and automation of several assays have led to the development of the so-called point-of-care tests (PoCT), which are devices capable to provide accurate and specific detection of analytes such as glucose, other clinically-relevant biomarkers, pathogens, and drugs. The detection with these devices typically takes place in a few minutes and without the need of specialized personnel. Here we discuss the key technologies and applications of PoCTs, as well as the major challenges in the clinical environment. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
ABSTRACT
This book chapter presents a broad overview of the application of nanotechnology in the biomedical area, exemplified by the application of several gas sensors (electrochemical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, optical, chemoresistive, metal oxide sensors, surface acoustic wave sensors) and focusing on the study of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath for the screening of diseases of worldwide interest such as breast cancer, lung cancer, COVID-19, post COVID-19 syndrome, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive disease, among others. This document aims to provide the state of the art in disruptive technologies based on nanosensors, especially electronic noses and the advances and perspectives in this field. The present work represents an important tool for researchers who are in the field of the development of sensing disruptive technologies for the study of VOCs in biological matrices (i.e., exhaled breath). Thus, the application of gas sensors has proven to be feasible in the biomedical area and a promising area within the diagnosis of communicable and non-communicable diseases, to be applied in POC settings, clinics, hospitals, doctors' offices, and especially in-field applications for less-favored populations where they lack the minimum resources to achieve universal health coverage. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, has highlighted the importance of testing and tracking infected individuals as a means of mitigating the spread of the virus. In this context, the development of sensitive and rapid methods for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is crucial. Here, a biosensor based on oligonucleotide-gated nanomaterials for the specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is presented. The sensing system consists of a nanoporous anodic alumina disk loaded with the fluorescent indicator rhodamine B and capped with a DNA aptamer that selectively binds the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The system is initially evaluated using pseudotype virus systems based on vesicular stomatitis virus carrying different SARS-CoV-2 S-proteins on their surface. When the pseudotype virus is present, the cap of the solid is selectively removed, triggering the release of the dye from the pore voids to the medium. The nanodevice demonstrated its ability to detect pseudotype virus concentrations as low as 7.5·103 PFU mL. In addition, the nanodevice is tested on nasopharyngeal samples from individuals suspected of having COVID-19. © 2023 The Authors. Advanced Materials Technologies published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
ABSTRACT
This work presents the development, test, and validation of a system that gathers and analyses data from optical sensors to monitor the air quality of indoor environments to help prevent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromes (SARS). © Optica Publishing Group 2022 The Authors.
ABSTRACT
Automated sample-to-answer systems that promptly diagnose emerging infectious diseases, such as zoonotic diseases, are crucial to preventing the spread of infectious diseases and future global pandemics. However, automated, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic testing without professionals and sample capacity and type limitations remains unmet needs. Here, we developed an automated sample-to-answer diagnostic system for rapid and accurate detection of emerging infectious diseases from clinical specimens. This integrated system consists of a microfluidic platform for sample preparation and a bio-optical sensor for nucleic acid (NA) amplification/detection. The microfluidic platform concentrates pathogens and NAs in a large sample volume using adipic acid dihydrazide and a low-cost disposable chip. The bio-optical sensor allows label-free, isothermal one-step NA amplification/detection using a ball-lensed optical fiber-based silicon micro-ring resonator sensor. The system is integrated with software to automate testing and perform analysis rapidly and simply;it can distinguish infection status within 80 min. The detection limit of the system (0.96 × 101 PFU) is 10 times more sensitive than conventional methods (0.96 × 102 PFU). Furthermore, we validated the clinical utility of this automated system in various clinical specimens from emerging infectious diseases, including 20 plasma samples for Q fever and 13 (11 nasopharyngeal swabs and 2 saliva) samples for COVID-19. The system showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for detecting 33 samples of emerging infectious diseases, such as Q fever, other febrile diseases, COVID-19, human coronavirus OC43, influenza A, and respiratory syncytial virus A. Therefore, we envision that this automated sample-to-answer diagnostic system will show high potential for diagnosing emerging infectious diseases in various clinical applications. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
ABSTRACT
This book chapter presents a broad overview of the application of nanotechnology in the biomedical area, exemplified by the application of several gas sensors (electrochemical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, optical, chemoresistive, metal oxide sensors, surface acoustic wave sensors) and focusing on the study of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath for the screening of diseases of worldwide interest such as breast cancer, lung cancer, COVID-19, post COVID-19 syndrome, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive disease, among others. This document aims to provide the state of the art in disruptive technologies based on nanosensors, especially electronic noses and the advances and perspectives in this field. The present work represents an important tool for researchers who are in the field of the development of sensing disruptive technologies for the study of VOCs in biological matrices (i.e., exhaled breath). Thus, the application of gas sensors has proven to be feasible in the biomedical area and a promising area within the diagnosis of communicable and non-communicable diseases, to be applied in POC settings, clinics, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and especially in-field applications for less-favored populations where they lack the minimum resources to achieve universal health coverage.
ABSTRACT
Recent advances in the Medical Internet of Things (MIoT) and big data enable a prospering platform for pervasive healthcare and facilitate the transformation from hospital-centered to human-centered healthcare. Wearable devices as human interfaces provide first-hand data and real-time monitoring, which are key technologies in the MIoT. Several remarkable surveys have been conducted to summarize the recent progress in wearable sensors and systems for the MIoT and pervasive medicine. However, few have focused on wearable optical sensing (WOS) technologies, which is an emerging sensing modality in wearable devices. WOS can achieve high precision, high compatibility, high anti-interference, and low motion artifacts for human vital signal acquisition, which are particularly useful in special scenarios such as intensive care units (ICUs). These technologies can also be integrated with smart fabrics or mobile computing for out-of-hospital healthcare. This work provides the first literature review of WOS for pervasive medicine. We aim to systematically summarize the emerging WOS technologies in the MIoT for disease diagnosis and health monitoring. Specifically, this review covers the technical bases and design principles of major WOS technologies and their application domains for monitoring and treatment. We also discuss the opportunities and challenges, especially in the COVID-19 outbreak.
ABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 i.e., the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus;has caused massive loss of life. Mitigating this pandemic requires rapid inexpensive technologies for testing COVID-19. Optical sensors can be used to detect the Covid-19 virus by the surface Plasmon resonance phenomenon. Surface plasmon resonance sensors have good sensitivity, response times, fine resolution, and limits of detection. This paper, provides a brief overview on the COVID-19 effects, currently used testing technology, and potential of surface plasmon resonance optical sensors use for detecting this virus. © 2021 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Nowadays, the Internet of Things (IoT) has an astonishingly societal impact in which healthcare services stand out. Amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, challenges include the development of authenticatable smart IoT devices with the ability to simultaneously track people and sense in real-time human body temperature aiming to infer a health condition in a contactless and remote way through user-friendly equipment such as a smartphone. Univocal smart labels based on quick response (QR) codes were designed and printed on medical substrates (protective masks and adhesive) using flexible organic-inorganic luminescent inks. Luminescence thermometry and physically unclonable functions (PUFs) are simultaneously combined allowing non-contact temperature detection, identification, and connection with the IoT environment through a smartphone. This is an intriguing example where luminescent inks based on organic-inorganic hybrids modified by lanthanide ions are used to fabricate a smart label that can sense temperature with remarkable figures of merit, including maximum thermal sensitivity of Sr=1.46 %K-1 and temperature uncertainty of dT=0.2 K, and accuracy, precision, and recall of 96.2%, 98.9%, and 85.7%, respectively. The methodology proposed is feasibly applied for the univocal identification and mobile optical temperature monitoring of individuals, allowing the control of the access to restricted areas and the information transfer to medical entities for post medical evaluation towards a new generation of mobile-assisted eHealth (mHealth). Author
ABSTRACT
This review covers emerging biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 detection together with a review of the biochemical and clinical assays that are in use in hospitals and clinical laboratories. We discuss the gap in bridging the current practice of testing laboratories with nucleic acid amplification methods, and the robustness of assays the laboratories seek, and what emerging SARS-CoV-2 sensors have currently addressed in the literature. Together with the established nucleic acid and biochemical tests, we review emerging technology and antibody tests to determine the effectiveness of vaccines on individuals.