The future of point-of-care diagnostics devices

The shift toward decentralised and patient-centric testing has placed point-of-care (POC) technologies at the forefront of medical innovation. Once limited to glucose test strips and lateral flow assays, the field has the potential to undergo a remarkable transformation, highlighted by breakthroughs in electrochemical biosensing platforms. 

These platforms are enabled by advanced carbon nanomaterials that showcase innovative and transformative features. To be ahead of this curve, diagnostics engineers need a clear understanding of point-of-care diagnostics up until this point before delving into the potential future.wd

From single analytes to complex diagnostics

The evolution of point-of-care diagnostics began with the need to monitor individual biomarkers in real time, often for chronic conditions requiring tight management. Among these, blood glucose monitoring stands as the archetypal use case pioneering both the technology and user adoption that would later define the field.

Glucose monitoring as a gateway to innovation

POC glucose monitoring paved the way for the entire field proving that biosensors could be miniaturised and used outside clinical labs. However, limitations in enzymatic stability and material variability have left room for improvement.

Recent advances have introduced non-enzymatic, synthetic receptor-based systems (such as boronic acid–functionalised electrodes) that are capable of selectively binding glucose in physiological environments. These systems show improved stability and lower cost when integrated with structured carbon nanomaterials, particularly those with high electroactive surface areas and tunable electronic properties.

Beyond glucose through infection, inflammation and stress

The scope of POC diagnostics has broadened significantly in recent years thanks to advancements in innovative carbon nanomaterials for biosensor transducers.

• Interleukin-10 sensors based on novel carbon transducers have been proven to detect inflammation biomarkers in saliva at femtogram-level concentrations.
• Cortisol monitoring, vital for assessing psychological stress, is now feasible via ultra-sensitive, non-invasive sensors tested in real-world saliva samples.
• Nucleic acid detection platforms for pathogens are emerging that forgo complex amplification steps in favour of label-free electrochemical readouts using engineered carbon interfaces.

None of these examples are currently commercially available in POC diagnostics, but new materials are making them a real possibility in the near future. 

Key trends in biosensor miniaturisation and multiplexing

A growing focus in diagnostics lies in simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers. Diseases like sepsis or myocardial infarction require panels of proteins to be measured together for confident diagnosis. With traditional lab-based methods (e.g., ELISA, mass spec) this is an extremely slow and cumbersome process for often time-critical decisions. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult for traditional transducer materials (graphene, CNTs, etc.) to support multiplexed capabilities due to cross-reactivity, signal interference and/or manufacturing variability. 

However, electrochemical POC devices using new carbon nanomaterials show extremely promising results to achieve multiplexed detection at a scalable and commercial level. These innovations compress what once required a full laboratory into the footprint of a credit card-sized device, opening up significant opportunities in POC diagnostics moving forward. 

The move towards wearable and contiunous diagnostics 

The frontier of POC diagnostics is increasingly wearable, enabling continuous health monitoring without the need for clinical intervention. Devices under development or early validation include sweat-based lactate sensors for sports medicine and critical care or even saliva cortisol monitors for mental health assessment in everyday settings. These devices represent a move away from single-use, episodic diagnostics toward integrated platforms that can adapt to an individual’s dynamic health state.

The integral role of novel carbon nanomaterials in the future of POC diagnostics

At the foundation of each of these POC capabilities is a fundamental rethink of the electrode material. Traditional noble metals and screen-printed carbon inks fall short in pivotal factors like sensitivity, cost and reproducibility. These stand in the way of commercial viability in many cases, but new forms of carbon nanomaterials are bringing transformative properties to the table. 

• 3D carbon structures unlock greater sensitivity, allowing for faster and more accurate detection of biomarkers even at ultra-low concentrations.
• Stable, non-destructive molecule binding ensures that biosensors remain reliable and responsive over time, improving device longevity and repeatability.
• Antifouling properties minimise interference from complex biological fluids like blood or saliva, ensuring clearer signals and more accurate results in real-world conditions.
• Highly scalable and reproducible fabrication supports consistent performance across batches, making the technology viable for both clinical and commercial deployment.

The material that is at the centre of the next diagnostic era

POC diagnostics are no longer limited by the lab. Thanks to advances in carbon nanomaterials, we are entering a new era of high-performance, low-barrier diagnostics.

Among the most promising of these materials is Gii, a proprietary 3D carbon nanomaterial that combines conductivity, antifouling behaviour, biocompatibility and reproducibility. Gii is also the first transducer material to provide fully capable multiplexed capabilities in electrochemical sensing. Thanks to these features, this promising material stands at the centre of POC diagnostics’ exciting future. 

To find out more about this innovative material and how it can enhance your applications, download our guide below.