Particles and microfluidics merged: perspectives of highly sensitive diagnostic detection.
There is a growing need for diagnostic technologies that provide laboratories with solutions that improve quality, enhance laboratory system productivity, and provide accurate detection of a broad range of infectious diseases and cancers. Recent advances in micro- and nanoscience and engineering, in particular in the areas of particles and microfluidic technologies, have advanced the "lab-on-a-chip" concept towards the development of a new generation of point-of-care diagnostic devices that could significantly enhance test sensitivity and speed. In this review, we will discuss many of the recent advances in microfluidics and particle technologies with an eye towards merging these two technologies for application in medical diagnostics. Although the potential diagnostic applications are virtually unlimited, the most important applications are foreseen in the areas of biomarker research, cancer diagnosis, and detection of infectious microorganisms.
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston 02114 MA, USA.
Tania
T
Konry
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston 02114 MA, USA.
Shyam Sundhar
SS
Bale
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston 02114 MA, USA.
Abhinav
A
Bhushan
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston 02114 MA, USA.
Keyue
K
Shen
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis, 3177 Kemper Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Erkin
E
Seker
Department of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
Boris
B
Polyak
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston 02114 MA, USA.
Martin
M
Yarmush
Bead based diagnostics; Biomarker research; Cancer diagnosis; Detection of infectious microorganisms; Diagnostic detection; Microfluidic; Particle technologies