Evaluating carbon-electrode dielectrophoresis under the ASSURED criteria

Abstract

Extreme point-of-care refers to medical testing in unfavorable conditions characterized by a lack of primary resources or infrastructure. As witnessed in the recent past, considerable interest in developing devices and technologies exists for extreme point-of-care applications, for which the World Health Organization has introduced a set of encouraging and regulating guidelines. These are referred to as the ASSURED criteria, an acronym for Affordable (A), Sensitive (S), Specific (S), User friendly (U), Rapid and Robust (R), Equipment-free (E), and Delivered (D). However, the current extreme point of care devices may require an intermediate sample preparation step for performing complex biomedical analysis, including the diagnosis of rare-cell diseases and early-stage detection of sepsis. This article assesses the potential of carbon-electrode dielectrophoresis (CarbonDEP) for sample preparation competent in extreme point-of-care, following the ASSURED criteria. We first discuss the theory and utility of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and the advantages of using carbon microelectrodes for this purpose. We then critically review the literature relevant to the use of CarbonDEP for bioparticle manipulation under the scope of the ASSURED criteria. Lastly, we offer a perspective on the roadmap needed to strengthen the use of CarbonDEP in extreme point-of-care applications.

A Review on 3D Architected Pyrolytic Carbon Produced by Additive Micro/Nanomanufacturing

“…as biosensing platforms, [47] lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip technologies, [101,102] dielectrophoretic [103,104] and cell-sorting or trapping systems. [105][106][107] Recently, carbon electrodes for viruses' protein detection against pandemics have been reported.…”

“…[ 47 ] Here specific biomedical applications of 3D PyC are briefly discussed. Biomedical applications of C‐MEMS and C‐NEMS involving 3D PyC structures, subsystems, or components, have emerged in parallel to developments in biomedical microfluidics and its application areas and usual configurations, mainly for in vitro applications such as biosensing platforms, [ 47 ] lab‐on‐a‐chip and organ‐on‐a‐chip technologies, [ 101,102 ] dielectrophoretic [ 103,104 ] and cell‐sorting or trapping systems. [ 105–107 ] Recently, carbon electrodes for viruses' protein detection against pandemics have been reported.…”

Carbon nanomaterials‐based electrically conductive scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

“…Carbon and carbon‐based materials feature unique mechanical, electrical, thermal, tribological, and biological properties, which yielded their usage in a wide range of applications, from biotechnology 16 to space technology 17 and from energy applications 18 to quantum devices 19 . They have also demonstrated remarkable versatility in the biomedical field, contributing to advancements in drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics, and biosensing 20–24 . In the realm of tissue engineering, carbon nanomaterials have been at the forefront since the early stage of this field.…”

“…19 They have also demonstrated remarkable versatility in the biomedical field, contributing to advancements in drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics, and biosensing. [20][21][22][23][24] In the realm of tissue engineering, carbon nanomaterials have been at the forefront since the early stage of this field. The carbon family offers a versatile portfolio of biomaterials, encompassing mechanical properties that span the entire spectrum relevant to interactions with the human body.…”