Toward rapid and sensitive point‐of‐care diagnosis with surface‐enhanced Raman scattering‐based optofluidic systems

With the recent global outbreaks of infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019, developing a detection system capable of quickly and accurately diagnosing diseases on‐site has become a pressing need. The ability to diagnose patients in the field is crucial for the prompt isolation and treatment of infected individuals and the prevention of the spread of the disease. Our research group has recently developed a surface‐enhanced Raman scattering optofluidic system that enables rapid and accurate point‐of‐care diagnostics. This account will introduce the principle and configuration of the fluidic devices, such as lateral flow assay strips or microfluidic channels, and the portable Raman spectrometer. We will also highlight the challenges that must be addressed for using this system in clinical settings. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical for effective disease management and control, and developing this system can significantly improve our ability to respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases.