Thwala Lungile Nomcebo, Ndlovu Sphumelele Colin, Mpofu Kelvin Tafadzwa, Lugongolo Masixole Yvonne, Mthunzi-Kufa Patience
National Laser Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, University Road, Westville, Durban 3630, South Africa.
Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023 Mar 31;13(7):1247. doi: 10.3390/nano13071247.
The introduction of point-of-care testing (POCT) has revolutionized medical testing by allowing for simple tests to be conducted near the patient's care point, rather than being confined to a medical laboratory. This has been especially beneficial for developing countries with limited infrastructure, where testing often involves sending specimens off-site and waiting for hours or days for results. However, the development of POCT devices has been challenging, with simplicity, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness being key factors in making these tests feasible. Nanotechnology has played a crucial role in achieving this goal, by not only making the tests possible but also masking their complexity. In this article, recent developments in POCT devices that benefit from nanotechnology are discussed. Microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies are highlighted as major drivers of point-of-care testing, particularly in infectious disease diagnosis. These technologies enable various bioassays to be used at the point of care. The article also addresses the challenges faced by these technological advances and interesting future trends. The benefits of point-of-care testing are significant, especially in developing countries where medical care is shifting towards prevention, early detection, and managing chronic conditions. Infectious disease tests at the point of care in low-income countries can lead to prompt treatment, preventing infections from spreading.
即时检验（POCT）的引入彻底改变了医学检验方式，它使简单的检测能够在患者护理点附近进行，而不必局限于医学实验室。这对基础设施有限的发展中国家尤为有益，在这些国家，检测通常需要将样本送到外地，并等待数小时或数天才能得到结果。然而，POCT设备的开发一直具有挑战性，简单性、准确性和成本效益是使这些检测可行的关键因素。纳米技术在实现这一目标方面发挥了至关重要的作用，它不仅使检测成为可能，还掩盖了其复杂性。本文讨论了受益于纳米技术的POCT设备的最新进展。微流体和芯片实验室技术被视为即时检验的主要驱动力，特别是在传染病诊断方面。这些技术使各种生物测定能够在护理点使用。本文还讨论了这些技术进步所面临的挑战以及有趣的未来趋势。即时检验的好处是巨大的，特别是在医疗保健正朝着预防、早期检测和慢性病管理转变的发展中国家。在低收入国家的护理点进行传染病检测可以实现及时治疗，防止感染传播。
