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Micromachines
Special Issues
Point-of-Care Testing Based on Biosensors and Biomimetic Sensors
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Point-of-Care Testing Based on Biosensors and Biomimetic Sensors

A Special Issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X) belonging to the section "B4: Point-of-Care Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2026) | Viewed by 7589

Editor

Dr. Rosa Fireman Dutra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biomedical Engineering Departmet, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
Interests: immunosensor; nanomaterial; point-of-care test; biosensors; electroanalysis; electrochemical sensors; optical immunosensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue summarizes research findings on the application of biosensors and biomimetic platforms in point-of-care (POC) testing and highlights their potential and challenges in clinical diagnostics. Immune and enzyme sensors have highly specific antigen–antibody or enzyme–substrate interactions that are combined with various signal transduction mechanisms—such as optical, electrochemical, and acoustic transducers—to enable rapid and accurate diagnosis. These (bio)sensors have demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and specificity in detecting biomarkers and pathogens as well as performing rapid screening.

The integration of biomimetic technologies further improves the performance of sensors. Techniques such as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), artificial enzymes (nanoenzymes), and aptamers offer improved stability, selectivity, and cost efficiency. These native and biomimetic recognition elements optimize the molecular recognition capabilities of the sensors and enable high precision even with complex samples.

The Special Issue also explores trends in combining biosensors and biomimetic approaches and shows how multiplexing, portability, and ease of use are driving POC technologies to broader clinical applications. Despite these advances, challenges remain in areas such as standardization, production costs, and long-term stability. Future research will focus on optimizing these technologies to make them more accessible and effective for broad clinical application.

Dr. Rosa Fireman Dutra
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • point-of-care testing
  • immunosensors
  • biomimetic techniques
  • molecularly imprinted polymers
  • artificial enzymes
  • aptamers
  • biosensors
  • diagnostics
  • rapid detection
  • multiplexing
  • electrochemical sensors
  • optical sensors
  • nanomaterials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5418 KB  
Article
A Capacitive Immunosensor Based on a Polypyrrole–CTAB for Probe-Free Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
by Licia de S. Gonçalves, Jose M. V. Fonseca, Nayara da S. Melo, Yonny Romaguera-Barcelay and Rosa F. Dutra
Micromachines 2026, 17(6), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17060731 - 17 Jun 2026
Viewed by 746
Abstract
A capacitive screen-printed electrode immunosensor operating in non-faradaic mode by dispensing redox probes was developed for the Coronavirus 2 Spike (S) protein. This new strategy enabled direct detection of the S protein by measuring changes in the electrochemical capacitance resulting from antigen–antibody interactions [...] Read more.
A capacitive screen-printed electrode immunosensor operating in non-faradaic mode by dispensing redox probes was developed for the Coronavirus 2 Spike (S) protein. This new strategy enabled direct detection of the S protein by measuring changes in the electrochemical capacitance resulting from antigen–antibody interactions on the electrode surface, altering interfacial dielectric properties. To enhance analytical sensitivity and provide an electrode surface with attractive capacitive and conductive properties, an in-house graphite ink-based screen-printed electrode was developed and subsequently modified with a polypyrrole (PPy) layer in bulk-synthesized in the presence of Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). CTAB acted as a dispersing and structure-directing agent, promoting homogeneous distribution and guiding the PPy polymerization, resulting in a composite with improved charge density storage and high conductivity. Analytical signals of the S proteins in spiked serum were detected by measuring the Specific Capacitances taken from cyclic voltammograms. This capacitive immunosensor achieved a linear range from 1 to 100 µg/mL (R2 = 0.989, p < 0.05), with a limit of detection of 0.45 µg/mL of S protein, which falls within the clinical range for COVID-19 diagnostics. Probe-free detection without ferri/ferrocyanide steps minimizes errors by probe adsorptions and is easy to use as a point-of-care, unlike conventional immunosensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Testing Based on Biosensors and Biomimetic Sensors)
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11 pages, 1963 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Non-Faradaic Impedimetric Parameters for IL-8 Detection Using Gold Interdigitated Electrode-Based Biosensors: Towards Early Detection of Newborn Disability
by Abdulelah S. Alrebaish, Layla O. Alnami, Joud M. Alshraim, Razan A. Alnghemshi, Alanoud A. Aljammaz, Amir Altinawi, Kholood K. Alhuthali, Hend Alfadul and Abdulaziz K. Assaifan
Micromachines 2025, 16(4), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16040395 - 28 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2667
Abstract
Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a critical biomarker associated with inflammation and disability in both adults and newborns. Conventional detection methods are often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and require highly trained personnel. Non-Faradaic impedimetric biosensors offer a label-free, rapid, and direct approach for IL-8 detection. While previous [...] Read more.
Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a critical biomarker associated with inflammation and disability in both adults and newborns. Conventional detection methods are often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and require highly trained personnel. Non-Faradaic impedimetric biosensors offer a label-free, rapid, and direct approach for IL-8 detection. While previous studies have primarily focused on capacitance and phase changes, the potential of other impedimetric parameters remains underexplored. In this study, a gold interdigitated electrode (Au-IDE)-based non-Faradaic biosensor was developed for IL-8 detection, evaluating multiple impedimetric parameters, including capacitance, impedance magnitude (Zmod), real impedance (Zreal), and imaginary impedance (Zimag). Among these, Zimag exhibited the lowest limit of detection (LoD) at 90 pg/mL, followed by Zmod at 120 pg/mL, and capacitance at 140 pg/mL, all significantly below the clinical threshold of 600 pg/mL. In contrast, Zreal displayed the highest LoD at 1.3 ng/mL. Sensitivity analysis revealed that Zimag provided the highest sensitivity at 13.1 kΩ/log (ng/mL), making it the most effective parameter for detecting IL-8 at low concentrations. The sensitivity of Zmod and Zreal was lower, while capacitance sensitivity was measured at 20 nF/log (ng/mL). These findings highlight the importance of investigating alternative impedimetric parameters beyond capacitance to optimize biosensor performance for biomarker detection. This study demonstrates that non-Faradaic biosensors, despite their capacitive-based nature, can achieve enhanced sensitivity and detection limits by leveraging additional impedimetric parameters, offering a promising approach for rapid and effective IL-8 detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Testing Based on Biosensors and Biomimetic Sensors)
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Review

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27 pages, 2427 KB  
Review
Modern Potentiostat Architectures for Electrochemical Sensing: Design, Integration, and Future Directions
by Reagan Aviha and Gymama Slaughter
Micromachines 2026, 17(6), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17060635 - 22 May 2026
Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Potentiostats are essential to electrochemical sensing, enabling precise control of electrode potentials and measurement of current responses. As demand grows for portable, wearable, and point-of-care systems, potentiostat design has evolved from benchtop instruments to compact, low-power, and wirelessly connected platforms. This review provides [...] Read more.
Potentiostats are essential to electrochemical sensing, enabling precise control of electrode potentials and measurement of current responses. As demand grows for portable, wearable, and point-of-care systems, potentiostat design has evolved from benchtop instruments to compact, low-power, and wirelessly connected platforms. This review provides a comprehensive, system-level perspective on modern potentiostat architectures, covering operational principles, analog front-end design, signal generation and acquisition, communication protocols, and software integration. Unlike prior reviews that treat these aspects independently, this work integrates electrochemical theory with electronic design and data communication frameworks. Key components, including operational amplifiers, transimpedance amplifiers, DAC/ADC subsystems, and microcontroller-based control, are examined alongside communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, and NFC. Critical challenges related to miniaturization, noise, power constraints, and reproducibility are analyzed using representative platforms. This review highlights the transition of potentiostats into integrated, intelligent, and connected sensing systems, and outlines design considerations for scalable electrochemical applications in clinical, environmental, and industrial domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Testing Based on Biosensors and Biomimetic Sensors)
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30 pages, 11140 KB  
Review
Acoustofluidic Biosensors
by Chun-Jui Chen, Jae-Sung Kwon and Han-Sheng Chuang
Micromachines 2026, 17(5), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17050561 - 30 Apr 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1099
Abstract
The rapid and precise detection of biomarkers and pathogens remains a critical challenge in clinical diagnostics. Traditional methodologies are frequently hindered by protracted workflows, complex sample preparation, and reliance on resource-intensive instrumentation. Acoustofluidics—the synergistic integration of acoustics and microfluidics—has emerged as a transformative [...] Read more.
The rapid and precise detection of biomarkers and pathogens remains a critical challenge in clinical diagnostics. Traditional methodologies are frequently hindered by protracted workflows, complex sample preparation, and reliance on resource-intensive instrumentation. Acoustofluidics—the synergistic integration of acoustics and microfluidics—has emerged as a transformative solution for point-of-care testing (POCT). Bulk acoustic wave (BAW) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) technologies enable the contactless, label-free, and biocompatible manipulation of bioparticles across micro- and nanometer scales. This review critically examines recent advancements in BAW- and SAW-based acoustofluidic biosensors. We elucidate the fundamental principles governing distinct acoustic modes—including Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), and Solidly Mounted Resonator (SMR) for BAW and Rayleigh and Love waves for SAW—and evaluate their specific roles in liquid-phase sensing, particle sorting, and cellular focusing. Results show that integrating on-chip sample preparation accelerates diagnostic workflows, reducing assay times to under 10 min. Coupling acoustic manipulation with optical, mass-based, or electrochemical modalities effectively overcomes fundamental diffusion limits, achieving ultrasensitive, multimodal detection. We address translational challenges—acoustothermal heating, biofouling, and scalable integration. Following a discussion of clinical applications in oncology and infectious diseases, we map emerging trajectories, emphasizing AI-driven intelligent microfluidics, modular architectures, and flexible wearable platforms that will ultimately democratize continuous precision diagnostics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Testing Based on Biosensors and Biomimetic Sensors)
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