A Review on 3D-Printed Miniaturized Devices for Point-of-Care-Testing Applications
Amol S. Kulkarni, Sarika Khandelwal, Yogesh Thakare, Jyoti Rangole, Madhusudan B. Kulkarni, Manish Bhaiyya
Abstract
Integrating three-dimensional printing (3DP) in healthcare has modernized medical diagnostics and therapies by presenting various accurate, efficient, and patient-specific tailored solutions. This review critically examines the integration of 3DP in the development of miniaturized devices specifically tailored for point-of-care testing (PoCT) applications in healthcare. Focusing on progressive additive manufacturing techniques, such as material extrusion, vat photopolymerization, and powder bed fusion, the review classifies and evaluates their contributions toward designing compact, portable, and patient-specific diagnostic devices. Unlike previous reviews that treat 3DP or PoCT generically, this work uniquely bridges the technical innovations of 3DP with clinical applications by analyzing wearable sensors, biosensors, lab-on-chip systems, and microfluidic platforms. It highlights recent case studies, performance metrics, and the role of 3DP in enhancing diagnostic speed, accessibility, and personalization. The review also explores challenges such as material standardization and regulatory hurdles while outlining future directions involving artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and multifunctional integration. This focused assessment establishes 3DP as a transformative force in decentralized and precision healthcare.