Magnetic particles-enabled biosensors for point-of-care testing

Point-of-care testing (POCT) for early diagnosis and personalized treatment in clinics plays an increasingly important role in controlling the outbreak of disease and improving the survival rate of patients. Magnetic particles (MPs) have emerged as promising candidates for developing biosensors for POCT. This review outlines the mechanisms of assaying biomarkers by MPs, and discusses recent advances in MPs-implemented biosensors with enhanced performance and reduced complexity. Portable and automated instruments for device operation and signal readout are included for the practical applications of MPs-combined biosensors for easy, reliable, and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostics. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.