Novel developments in mobile sensing based on the integration of microfluidic devices and smartphones

Abstract

Portable electronic devices and wireless communication systems enable a broad range of applications such as environmental and food safety monitoring, personalized medicine and healthcare management. Particularly, hybrid smartphone and microfluidic devices provide an integrated solution for the new generation of mobile sensing applications. Such mobile sensing based on microfluidic devices (broadly defined) and smartphones (MS(2)) offers a mobile laboratory for performing a wide range of bio-chemical detection and analysis functions such as water and food quality analysis, routine health tests and disease diagnosis. MS(2) offers significant advantages over traditional platforms in terms of test speed and control, low cost, mobility, ease-of-operation and data management. These improvements put MS(2) in a promising position in the fields of interdisciplinary basic and applied research. In particular, MS(2) enables applications to remote in-field testing, homecare, and healthcare in low-resource areas. The marriage of smartphones and microfluidic devices offers a powerful on-chip operating platform to enable various bio-chemical tests, remote sensing, data analysis and management in a mobile fashion. The implications of such integration are beyond telecommunication and microfluidic-related research and technology development. In this review, we will first provide the general background of microfluidic-based sensing, smartphone-based sensing, and their integration. Then, we will focus on several key application areas of MS(2) by systematically reviewing the important literature in each area. We will conclude by discussing our perspectives on the opportunities, issues and future directions of this emerging novel field.

Mkit: A cell migration assay based on microfluidic device and smartphone

“…Mobile sensing based on the integration of microfluidic device and smartphone, so-called MS 2 technology, is an emerging and fast developing research area in recent years Yang et al 2016). It has been used as a mobile laboratory for a wide range of applications, which include biochemical detection and analysis such as water and food quality analysis, routine health test and disease diagnosis Zhang and Liu 2016).…”

Phantom membrane microfluidic cross-flow filtration device for the direct optical detection of water pollutants

“…In the quest for novel paradigms for environmental analysis enabling rapid detection and identification of compounds at the point of need, microfluidics are emerging as versatile tools offering many advantages, including the possibility of cost effective automation, low reagent consumption and multiplexing [20] [21]. Different materials for the fabrication of microfluidic devices have been proposed since the beginning of the investigations in microfluidic technology [22].…”

Mobile-Phone Based Chemical Analysis - Instrumental Innovations and Smartphone Apps

“…An incredibly fast development of that mobile sensing field, which is observed in less than one decade, was already subject of numerous review papers in scientific journals. Recent ones are devoted, for instance to bioanalytical applications [6], smartphone-based biosensors [7], and integration of microfluidic devices and smartphones [8].…”