FOFLOC: Friend or Foe Lab on Chip Sensor for Pathogen Diagnostics

Abstract

Infectious diseases are diseases caused by viruses, parasites, bacteria, or toxic particles. The outbreak of infections has caused several pandemics over the past years, such as Influenza and Cholera. Recently, we were facing the Covid-19 pandemic, research has shown that mortality rates and the socio- economical burdens would have been suppressed with timely detection and with the development of effective treatments. Given that viruses can easily mutate, as evidenced with SARS-Cov2, prevention and early detection of infection seems to be the most reliable strategies to cope with pandemics. The current available diagnostics tools, such as real-time polymerize chain reaction (RT-PCR), are not compatible with early detection as they are time-consuming, expensive, don’t offer multiplexing, and don’t offer on-site detection. To tackle these issues, Lab-on-Chip (LoC) biosensors have emerged, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods. Electrochemical biosensors mainly consist of electrodes integrated into a platform to offer portable, on-site, cost-effective, specific, and fast detection. This project introduces a multiplexing LoC biosensor for the simultaneous detection of three infection biomarkers; lactate, hydrogen peroxide, and C-reactive protein (CRP) all in one device using biocatalytic enzymes for the two metabolies and an antigen for CRP as biorecognition elements. Optimization on the electrode materials in terms of bioelectrocatalytic performance leads to the optimum sensing capabilities while allowing for multiplexing on a chip. This work combines LoC technologies based on microfluidics and the recent advancements in materials science, combining conducting polymers with 2D electronic materials for the electrode fabrication.

Date of Award	Aug 2023
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Anna-Maria Pappa (Supervisor)