Smart Nanodevices for Point-of-Care Applications

Background: While significant advancement has made to reduce the percentage of mortality during the treatment of chronic diseases, however, there are several challenges associated with the healthcare sector for the improvement of human lifestyle. Recently, the development of specific, sensitive, accurate, quick, low-cost and easy-to-use diagnostic tools are in great demand. Nanodiagnostic is defined as an application of nanotechnology to medical diagnostics that offers several unique opportunities to treat chronic diseases successfully and more effectively. Methods: This review is aimed at focusing a wide range of nano-based platforms, including smart nanomaterials and their nanodevices for point-of-care applications. Results: The current state-of-the-art and most promising nanodiagnostics include miniaturized diagnostic tools, nanorobotics and drug delivery systems. The present review also highlights the drawbacks and potential developments that are associated with nanodiagnostics for point-of-care applications in the treatment of chronic diseases. Conclusions: Even though several researchers have dedicated their time to developing highly advanced smart nanodevices for point-of-care applications, but reliability and continuous monitoring of patient's health are questionable. Moreover, researchers and administrators need to focus on the designing of a roadmap for the availability of nanodevices to rural patients to undergo in situ diagnosis as well as reusability of the devices which could reduce the percentage of mortality and cost of the testing.