Emergence of Microfluidic Platforms as Point of Care Diagnostics for the Detection of Plant and Foodborne Pathogens

Globally, agriculture ensures the food security of the world population and remains as one of the major contributors to country’s economic development. The increasing occurrence of broad spectrum of consequential challenges such as plant diseases and foodborne illness has resulted in destabilised crop yields, affecting the food chain, and potentially causing health risks in people. This has insisted on the imperative need for the rapid, effective and accurate identification of pathogens which has led to the emergence of the promising solution called Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology. This review comprehends on the industrial and regulatory viewpoints, providing valuable perspectives on the possibilities and challenges associated with integration of LOC technology into agriculture and food safety protocols.

Lab-on-a-chip (LoC) devices has changed the course of diagnostic patterns as it was developed with the aim of including different technologies and combining several intricate laboratory operations onto a single miniaturized chip thus making them easily transportable and environment-friendly. Microfluidics and nanofluidics systems form the basis of the LoC technology where the sample fluid volumes are manipulated and controlled in micrometre or nanometre sized channels. It possesses unique fluidic behaviours as compared to the traditional fluid dynamics. LoC devices has provided with timely interventions which in turn helps in early on-site diagnostics in agricultural sector besides that it also enables real-time monitoring of the soil nutrient levels. These devices are subjected to regulation and standardization which needs to be made adaptive in order to adapt itself to the technical improvements over the course of advancements, that can be achieved by collaborative approaches.

Agriculture and foodborne pathogens remain as one of the important diagnostic targets because of their increasing prevalence and associated adverse effects it has on the world population and economy. The development of LoC device is a revolutionary advancement that has altered the pattern and time of diagnosis and made early detection of pathogens possible besides supporting in crop management as well. Continuous research and development are being carried out to improvise the device along with adaptive regulatory systems to ensure the quality and safety.