Infectious diseases caused by pathogens, such as SARS-COV, H7N9,
severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, and human immunodeficiency virus, have fatal outcomes with common features of severe
fever and subsequent bacterial invasion progressing to multiorgan failure. Gene
biomarkers are promising to distinguish specific
infections from others with similar presenting symptoms for the prescription of correct
therapeutics, preventing pandemics. While routine laboratory methods based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure gene
biomarkers have provided highly sensitive and specific viral detection techniques over the years, they are still hampered by their precision and resource intensity precluding their point-of-care use. Recently, there has been growing interest in employing microfluidic technologies to advance current methods for
infectious disease determination via gene
biomarker measurements. Here, based on the requirement of
infection detection, we will review three microfluidic approaches to compartmentalize gene
biomarkers: (1) microwell-based PCR platforms; (2) droplet-based PCR; and (3) point-of-care devices including centrifugal chip, SlipChip, and self-powered integrated microfluidic point-of-care low-cost enabling chip. By capturing target genes in microwells with a small sample volume (∼μl), sensitivity can be enhanced. Additionally, with the advance of significant sample volume minimization (∼pl) using droplet technology, gene quantification is possible. These improvements in cost, automation, usability, and portability have thereby allowed point-of-care applications to decentralize testing platforms from laboratory-based settings to field use against
infections.