Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the Clinic
The COVID-19 pandemic and recent viral outbreaks have highlighted the need for viral diagnostics that balance accuracy with accessibility. While traditional laboratory methods remain essential, point-of-care solutions are critical for decentralized testing at the population level. However, a gap per...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Biosensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/436 |
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| author | Westley Van Zant Partha Ray |
| author_facet | Westley Van Zant Partha Ray |
| author_sort | Westley Van Zant |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic and recent viral outbreaks have highlighted the need for viral diagnostics that balance accuracy with accessibility. While traditional laboratory methods remain essential, point-of-care solutions are critical for decentralized testing at the population level. However, a gap persists between academic proof-of-concept studies and clinically viable tools, with novel technologies remaining inaccessible to clinics due to cost, complexity, training, and logistical constraints. Recent advances in surface functionalization, assay simplification, multiplexing, and performance in complex media have improved the feasibility of both optical and non-optical sensing techniques. These innovations, coupled with scalable manufacturing methods such as 3D printing and streamlined hardware production, pave the way for practical deployment in real-world settings. Additionally, software-assisted data interpretation, through simplified readouts, smartphone integration, and machine learning, enables the broader use of diagnostics once limited to experts. This review explores improvements in viral diagnostic approaches, including colorimetric, optical, and electrochemical assays, showcasing their potential for democratization efforts targeting the clinic. We also examine trends such as open-source hardware, modular assay design, and standardized reporting, which collectively reduce barriers to clinical adoption and the public dissemination of information. By analyzing these interdisciplinary advances, we demonstrate how emerging technologies can mature into accessible, low-cost diagnostic tools for widespread testing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c613a6cd4164f179c1b9b30c52a6fb2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2079-6374 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c613a6cd4164f179c1b9b30c52a6fb22025-08-20T03:08:10ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-07-0115743610.3390/bios15070436Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the ClinicWestley Van Zant0Partha Ray1Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USAThe COVID-19 pandemic and recent viral outbreaks have highlighted the need for viral diagnostics that balance accuracy with accessibility. While traditional laboratory methods remain essential, point-of-care solutions are critical for decentralized testing at the population level. However, a gap persists between academic proof-of-concept studies and clinically viable tools, with novel technologies remaining inaccessible to clinics due to cost, complexity, training, and logistical constraints. Recent advances in surface functionalization, assay simplification, multiplexing, and performance in complex media have improved the feasibility of both optical and non-optical sensing techniques. These innovations, coupled with scalable manufacturing methods such as 3D printing and streamlined hardware production, pave the way for practical deployment in real-world settings. Additionally, software-assisted data interpretation, through simplified readouts, smartphone integration, and machine learning, enables the broader use of diagnostics once limited to experts. This review explores improvements in viral diagnostic approaches, including colorimetric, optical, and electrochemical assays, showcasing their potential for democratization efforts targeting the clinic. We also examine trends such as open-source hardware, modular assay design, and standardized reporting, which collectively reduce barriers to clinical adoption and the public dissemination of information. By analyzing these interdisciplinary advances, we demonstrate how emerging technologies can mature into accessible, low-cost diagnostic tools for widespread testing.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/436biosensorsaccessible diagnosticspoint-of-care (POC) testingdemocratization |
| spellingShingle | Westley Van Zant Partha Ray Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the Clinic Biosensors biosensors accessible diagnostics point-of-care (POC) testing democratization |
| title | Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the Clinic |
| title_full | Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the Clinic |
| title_fullStr | Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the Clinic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the Clinic |
| title_short | Democratization of Point-of-Care Viral Biosensors: Bridging the Gap from Academia to the Clinic |
| title_sort | democratization of point of care viral biosensors bridging the gap from academia to the clinic |
| topic | biosensors accessible diagnostics point-of-care (POC) testing democratization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/436 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT westleyvanzant democratizationofpointofcareviralbiosensorsbridgingthegapfromacademiatotheclinic AT partharay democratizationofpointofcareviralbiosensorsbridgingthegapfromacademiatotheclinic |