Dear Colleagues,

Microfluidics-based Point-of-Care (POC) detection is a technology used for the quick and efficient detection of bio-analytes, such as viruses, bacteria, and proteins, in health care applications. It utilizes microfluidic devices, which are small and portable, to perform rapid and sensitive assays at the POC. This technology has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnosis and treatment by providing results in real-time, reducing the time to diagnosis and enabling early intervention. This can lead to improved patient outcomes and reduced costs in the healthcare system.

The advantages of microfluidics-based POC detection include reduced sample volumes, lower cost, improved accuracy, and faster results compared to traditional laboratory-based diagnostic techniques. In addition, microfluidic devices can be integrated with sensors and biosensors, enabling multiplexing and the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes. The combination of these features makes microfluidics-based POC detection a promising technology for a wide range of health care applications, including infectious disease screening, cancer diagnosis, and the monitoring of chronic diseases. Despite these advantages, there are still challenges to be overcome, such as the standardization of devices and assays, the integration of results with electronic medical records, and the development of low-cost, user-friendly devices for widespread use.

According to a market research report, the global microfluidics-based POC detection market was valued at USD 3.25 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2021 to 2028. The growth of this market is driven by factors such as the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, the growing demand for rapid and accurate diagnostic tools, and advancements in microfluidics technology.

Topics of interest include, but not limited to:

• Development and standardization of microfluidic devices for POC diagnosis;
• Integration of microfluidics-based POC results with electronic medical records;
• Advancements in biosensors for multiplexing and the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes;
• Clinical validation and implementation of microfluidics-based POC diagnostic devices;
• Cost-effectiveness and user-friendliness of microfluidic POC devices for widespread use;
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of the microfluidics-based POC detection market;
• The potential of microfluidics-based POC detection to monitor chronic diseases and early intervention;
• Advancements in sample preparation techniques for microfluidics-based POC diagnosis;
• The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in microfluidics-based POC detection.

Dr. Aashish Mathur
Prof. Dr. Susanta Sinha Roy
Prof. Dr. Satheesh Krishnamurthy
Guest Editors

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• microfluidics
• point-of-Care (POC)
• bio-analytes
• health care applications
• diagnosis
• real-time results
• portable
• sensitive assays
• multiplexing
• low-cost