Micro-Devices for Pathogen Detection

Dear Colleagues,

Epidemics caused by infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of 2019, represent unprecedented challenges for mankind. When facing unknown infectious diseases, it is important to identify pathogens quickly and effectively, so as not to cause public panic. Although the performance of current clinical and laboratory testing instruments is rapidly improving, there is still an urgent need for the development of micro-devices that can simultaneously achieve detection sensitivity, speed, portability, and accuracy. Gene sequencing, protein analysis, nucleic acid analysis, and culture-based instruments are still the most commonly used methods for pathogen identification and detection. Some culture-free detection techniques have also been reported. However, there are currently no related devices available on the market.

In the past decade, the development of new detection devices that are based on optics, electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, microscopic imaging technology, 2D materials, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing, and computer analysis has gradually gained momentum in the field of pathogen detection. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to introduce research papers, newsletters, and review articles focusing on the development of new micro-devices aimed at the detection of pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and so on).

We also welcome papers that described novel designs or fabrications that have potential applications as one of the modules of micromachines related to pathogen detection. These modules can be applied hopefully to pathogen detection in the future, although so far no biological experiments have been conducted to verify its feasibility, there is enough other experimental evidence to prove it is reliable and usable.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Wenwen Jing
Guest Editor

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