Emerging technologies for diagnostics and drug delivery in the fight against COVID-19 and other pandemics

Abstract

Introduction: A pandemic is the worst-case scenario in the field of infectious diseases. Innovative technologies have the potential to address the challenges associated with the manufacture of personalized drug delivery systems, biosensors, and medical devices during a pandemic. 3D-Printing, microfluidics, and Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can provide an important part on this fight, as are cheap, easy to be operated, capable to provide rapid detection and monitoring of a disease, and deliver medicines.Areas covered: This manuscript answers the question of how these emerging technologies can save lives during a pandemic by avoiding supply chain delays and also by providing rapid diagnostics, disease monitoring, or by offering personalized treatments. The manuscript covers recent approaches in the topic with a focus in manuscripts published in the last year and by emphasising recent regulatory considerations by regulatory agencies in the manufacturing of 3DP systems or other medical devices during COVID. Expert opinion: New manufacturing techniques are emerging with the ability to address the challenges associated with the development of medical devices or diagnostics, during a pandemic. Are many challenges in order to achieve this and especially in short times that are required under a pandemic attack, which will also be covered in this manuscript.

Considerations for diagnostic COVID-19 tests

“…This disruption was palpable for COVID-19 diagnostic tests both in the manufacturing disruption observed and in the downstream logistics infrastructure delivering diagnostic tests to the end users. The tight interoperability of the supply chain as well as the initial (physical and economic) lockdown of China, representing a low-tier supply base for a large part of the manufacturing operations globally, meant that manufacturing would be one of the hardest-hit economic sectors 78 , 79 . Therefore, a dual bottleneck emerged early on in the pandemic in terms of sourcing the biological materials as well as sourcing the primary sources for manufacturing.…”

Blucher Engineering Proceedings

“…This literature review identified six articles (TABLE 1), of which two studies [4,5] were reviews about the importance of emerging technology in coping with the pandemic. Another study [6] conducted a search on online sources and went deeper into technically analyzing the role of 3D printing in the pandemic.…”

“…Lamprou [5] explores bioprinting, a more advanced solution for the use of 3D printing in the field of health, capable of treating specific diseases with a more personalized approach. Through the predictive, preventive and personalized approach (3P), using printing methods adjusted to the requirements of medical products for consumption, it is possible to take the technology of production of medicines into hospitals, accelerating the entire logistics chain associated with the supply of these medicines and allowing researchers, who also need to act on the front of the fight, to adjust doses and carry out their tests with greater speed.…”

“…The efforts of public and private companies and individuals with the support of emerging technologies, such as additive manufacturing, were a milestone in the fight against the pandemic. These technologies have become important in the study of COVID-19, in the development of advanced diagnostic tools and treatments and in the response to the shortage of medical supplies [5]. The possibility that hospitals have 3D printing laboratories capable of producing new or replacement parts are important alternatives in times of difficulties such as that faced in the 2020 pandemic [6].…”

The Path Forward for COVID-19 Diagnostics

“…As LOC devices can be miniaturized and easily automated, they are an excellent platform for POC diagnostics, and this is already being realized in the literature [ 4 – 6 ]. Innovations such as 3D printing have the potential to revolutionize LOC technologies and increase accessibility [ 7 ].…”