Recent progress in Arduino- and smartphone-based sensors for biochemical and environmental analysis

Abstract

Recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and environmental disasters have emphasized the importance of rapid and efficient sensing platforms. Scientists have focused on developing portable sensing platforms to avoid using bulky and high-cost analytical equipment. Smartphones are the most accessible gadgets with integrated sensors to perform analytical analysis. However, the constant advances and competition in smartphones result in upgrades to smartphones, including their sensors, every year. Moreover, differences in smartphones' sensor and image processing algorithms that vary from model to model complicate the standardization of readers. Arduino microcontroller-based readers have been investigated as an alternative to the smartphone data reader. Although Arduino-based sensors are not as portable as smartphones and cannot perform other tasks than they are developed and programmed for, they are usually built from a limited number of components, thus simplifying their standardization. In this review, we outline the different approaches used to develop smartphone-based analytical sensors and the development of Arduino-based sensors. These approaches will mainly focus on developing novel sensing platforms, the choice of smartphone sensors, and data processing methods. We also discuss the application of smartphone- and Arduino-based sensors for biochemical and environmental monitoring.