Recent advances in micro/nanotechnologies for global control of hepatitis B infection

Abstract

The control of Hepatits B virus (HBV) infection is a challenging task, specifically in developing countries where there is limited access to diagnostics and antiviral treatment mainly due to high costs and insufficient healthcare infrastructure. Although current diagnostic technologies can reliably detect HBV, they are relatively laborious, impractical and expensive for resource-limited settings. Advances in micro/nanotechnology are pioneering the development of new generation methodologies in diagnosis and screening of HBV. Owing to combination of nanomaterials (metal/inorganic nanopaticles, carbon nanotubes, etc.) with microfabrication technologies, utilization of miniaturized sensors detecting HBV and other viruses from ultra-low volume of blood, serum and plasma is realized. The state-of-the-art microfluidic devices with integrated nanotechnologies potentially allow for HBV screening at low cost. This review aims to highlight recent advances in nanotechnology and microfabrication processes that are employed for developing point-of-care (POC) HBV assays.

Advances in nanomaterials and their applications in point of care (POC) devices for the diagnosis of infectious diseases

“…immunoassays) are not practically reliable. The reason for this setback of immunoassays is the lack of antibodies against HBV in the body throughout the 'window period' (Yildiz et al, 2015). NAT is also particularly useful in the diagnosis of occult HBV infection (Ozsoz et al, 2003).…”

“…One major defect of graphene-based nanomaterials is their high hydrophobicity, which is responsible for formation of clumps in solution. These bulky aggregates indiscriminately bind biomolecules other than the desired targets, and could cause denaturation of the sample (Yildiz et al, 2015).…”

Advances in Nanotechnology and Microfluidics for Human Papillomavirus Diagnostics

“…At present, emerging biosensing technologies based on microfluidics and nanotechnology hold great potential to develop POC screening assays [48], [99]- [101]. However, the reported sensing technologies still need to go through vigorous clinical validation, and in some cases further assay refinement.…”

Innovative technologies for point‐of‐care testing of viral hepatitis in low‐resource and decentralized settings

“…All these materials can also be coated on the sensing surface or inserted inside it to enhance the detection signal . Biosensor‐ and nanomaterial‐based technologies applied to HBV and HCV detection have been reviewed elsewhere . Table presents a nonexhaustive list of the most recently developed viral hepatitis biosensors and their characteristics regarding detection and their level of integration in a single device.…”