New Strategies and Technologies Enabling Point of Care Diagnosis of Neglected or Tropical Diseases

Point-of-care diagnostics (POC-Dx) is a new approach to diagnostics aiming to replace sophisticated analytical machinery with microanalytical systems, able to be used at the bedside, field conditions, megacities outskirts, virtually anywhere where care is needed. Sample preparation plays a vital role in molecular biology and POC-Dx as the primary step for many downstream applications. Although remarkable efforts have been made, a simple and effective sample preparation method is still a major challenge for the widespread use of POC-Dx, especially considering the economic conditions of the places where these tests are more needed. At present, it seems difficult, if not impossible, to establish a procedure that can be universally applied to all diagnostic needs. Currently, DNA/RNA-based POC technologies have very limited real-world use because sample preparation is a significant obstacle for obtaining nucleic acids with enough quality for accurate and specific results. POCT has already been identified as a promising tool in the diagnosis and management of NTD, however, this promise is hampered by the lack of adequate sample preparation methods.
However, new materials, as well as new instruments and technologies, are being developed to overcome such hurdles. It also should not be forgotten that the effects of the Nucleic Acid Extraction chemicals upon the main plastic polymers used to mass-produce POC-Dx systems bring limitations and challenges of nucleic acid extraction NAE POC systems to the list of topics of interest. In this Research Topic, we invite researchers to present their work on new materials, systems, platforms or new applications of already existing technological solutions in the pursuit for an efficient extraction method that can be integrated into a POC-Dx system. In particular, we are referring to molecular-based POC diagnostics since Portable nucleic acid-based instruments have already been developed and are commercially available. However, they still do not fulfill the portability expectations of POC diagnostics, remaining inside laboratories due to the lack of efficient sample preparation (i.e. DNA/RNA extraction methods) that are suitable for POC use. Of special interest would be research that is already field-tested for neglected tropical diseases as mentioned in the WHO list.