Review on Recent Advances in Nanotechnology Based Diagnostic Tools for Infectious Disease
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Abstract
One of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the developing world is infectious diseases, which are common there. Because it is so easy to travel from one part of the world to another, infectious diseases can start in a confined area and spread quickly at any time. This might cause a worldwide pandemic. One essential to limiting this spread is the development of diagnostics that can quickly identify the infectious agent so that one may properly treat or in some severe circumstances, isolate a patient. Although diagnostic technologies have advanced significantly, infectious disease diagnostics are still based on outdated technology from the 1950s, which has limitations such as slow processing speed, the requirement for specialized personnel, a low detection threshold, and the inability to identify several infectious agent strains. Here, we outline developments in infectious disease diagnostics using nanotechnology and microtechnology. Nanomaterials serve as labels or barcodes in these diagnostic techniques, while microfluidic technologies automate the sample the assays and their preparation. We outline the difficulties and current status of the field.