Overview of the Current Nano-Materials, Synthesis, Properties and Characterization

Point of care testing (PoCT) systems, which enable diagnosis and treatment at or close to the care site, play a crucial role in the control of epidemics and other types of infectious diseases that are spread throughout the world due to their advantages such as short turnaround times, portability, reusability, efficiency, ease of use, and low cost. In particular, nanomaterial-based PoCT systems are widely used due to their excellent chemical and physical properties that allow high analytical performance and simplify the detection process. Therefore, recently, many different types of nanomaterials have been used to develop nanomaterial-based PoCT devices in various platforms. Various kinds of nanomaterials such as metal-based nanoparticles, quantum dots, nanoshells, nanotubes, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) nanogels, nanofibers, and flexible hybrid composites are used to provide detection, signal generation, transduction, and amplification in PoCT devices. In this context, the synthesis methods and controlled physical/chemical properties of these nanomaterials are crucial points to improve the performance of the PoCT devices. In this chapter, we will highlight the synthesis and development strategies of nanomaterials currently used in different PoCT devices, along with existing challenges and future prospects.