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Review
. 2023 Feb;39(2):139-148.
doi: 10.1007/s44211-022-00216-1. Epub 2022 Dec 2.

Promising instrument-free detections of various analytes using smartphones with Spotxel® Reader

Ningyi Qin #  1 , Zirui Liu #  2 , Lanbin Zhao  3 , Mengfan Bao  1 , Xifan Mei  4   5 , Dan Li  6
Affiliations
Review

Promising instrument-free detections of various analytes using smartphones with Spotxel® Reader

Ningyi Qin et al. Anal Sci. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

In consideration of the problems related to food safety, environmental pollution, and the spread of infected diseases nowadays, we urgently need testing methods that can be easily performed by common people. Smartphone-based detections are promising for general applications. However, some of these analytical strategies require a combination of accessories and instruments, such as portable electrochemical workstations, mini multi-mode microplate readers, and complex temperature control devices, etc., which are small but still expensive. Herein, we comprehensively introduce a free app (Spotxel® Reader) that can provide accurate data analysis for microplate or parallel-format test sensors without an instrument. By simulating the optical signal of the test samples through a smartphone, the sensing results can be obtained for free. We discuss the detection strategies involved in the reported smartphone-based analyses using Spotxel® Reader. Prospects for the development of this free app for future detection applications are presented. This review aims to popularize free analysis software, so that ordinary people may realize convenient tests.

Keywords: Instrument-free; Smartphone; Spotxel® Reader; Wide available.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Spotxel® Reader app: bare interface (a), camera interface (b), analysis array design interface (c), and its optical signal intensity result display (d)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Evaluation of food safety using smartphone with Spotxel® Reader based on MIP sensing: a Scheme for the detection of AFB1 using an MIP-membrane-based smartphone sensor. Reproduced with permission from [47] by Elsevier. b the structure of AFB1 and several molecule candidates for recognizing ABFB1; the possible binding sites were marked based on Michael reaction
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Evaluation of food safety using smartphone with Spotxel® Reader based on an antibody-modified nanosensor: A schematic of synthesis of AuNP@MnO2. B Mn2+-mediated aggregation of the colloid. a coating of FB1-BSA on the well, b Competitive reaction, c ALP-IgG interacted with McAb, d the hydrolysis of AAP by ALP, e ascorbic acid induced the generation of Mn2+ causing aggregation of AuNPs. f Spotxel® Reader analysis. Reproduced with permission from [51] by Elsevier
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Evaluation of food nutrition using smartphone with Spotxel® Reader based on antibody-modified nanozymes: schematic illustration of the integration system of nanozyme-based immunoassay with a smartphone for the detection of α-LA. Reproduced with permission from [53] by Elsevier
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Evaluation of pesticides using smartphone with Spotxel® Reader based on artificial receptors inside a CCFs sensor: scheme for the fabrication of the CARs-CCFs and fluorescence sensing of pyrethroids using artificial receptors bound inside a covalent organic framework by smartphone-based analysis; b the quenching constant of the CARs-CCFs and control group for LC and its analogs; c Spotxel® Reader software processing results. Reproduced with permission from [60] by Elsevier
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 using smartphone with Spotxel® Reader based on an Immuno nanosensor: scheme of the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antigen using smartphone with Spotxel® Reader. Reproduced with permission from [67] by Elsevier
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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