scholarly journals Colorimetric Determination of Nitrate after Reduction to Nitrite in a Paper-Based Dip Strip

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Amer Charbaji ◽  
Hojat Heidari-Bafroui ◽  
Nasim Rahmani ◽  
Constantine Anagnostopoulos ◽  
Mohammad Faghri

Paper-based microfluidic technology is a relatively new field of research that provides low-cost platforms and sensors for point-of-care diagnostics. While the majority of research in this field has been for biomedical applications, more and more paper-based devices and platforms are being designed and developed for environmental applications, such as water quality monitoring and assessment. One such application is the detection of nitrate in water samples. Colorimetric detection of nitrate by paper-based devices using the Griess assay requires the reduction of nitrate to nitrite before undergoing the reaction. In this paper, we measured the performance of a paper-based dip strip for detecting nitrate and nitrite by calculating its limit of detection and limit of quantification. We also calculated the reduction efficiency of vanadium (III) chloride in the dip strip for detecting nitrate. Our results show that the reduction time of nitrate via vanadium (III) chloride is much longer than that when using zinc microparticles. Our results also show that the performance of the dip strip using vanadium (III) chloride for nitrate detection is not as good as more intricate paper-based devices that have a separate reaction zone with zinc microparticles. The limits of detection and quantification calculated were 3.352 and 7.437 ppm, and the nitrate reduction efficiency varied over the range of nitrate concentrations tested.

2019 ◽  
Vol 412 (4) ◽  
pp. 811-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora Macchia ◽  
Lucia Sarcina ◽  
Rosaria Anna Picca ◽  
Kyriaki Manoli ◽  
Cinzia Di Franco ◽  
...  

AbstractEarly diagnosis of the infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is vital to achieve efficient therapeutic treatment and limit the disease spreading when the viremia is at its highest level. To this end, a point-of-care HIV-1 detection carried out with label-free, low-cost, and ultra-sensitive screening technologies would be of great relevance. Herein, a label-free single molecule detection of HIV-1 p24 capsid protein with a large (wide-field) single-molecule transistor (SiMoT) sensor is proposed. The system is based on an electrolyte-gated field-effect transistor whose gate is bio-functionalized with the antibody against the HIV-1 p24 capsid protein. The device exhibits a limit of detection of a single protein and a limit of quantification in the 10 molecule range. This study paves the way for a low-cost technology that can quantify, with single-molecule precision, the transition of a biological organism from being “healthy” to being “diseased” by tracking a target biomarker. This can open to the possibility of performing the earliest possible diagnosis.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1798
Author(s):  
Ravi Mani Tripathi ◽  
Sang J. Chung

The enzyme mimetic activity of nanomaterials has been applied in colorimetric assays and point-of-care diagnostics. Several nanomaterials have been exploited for their peroxidase mimetic activity toward 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. However, an efficient nanomaterial for the rapid and strong oxidation of TMB remains a strategic challenge. Therefore, in this study, we developed copper-loaded tin oxide (SnO2-Cu) nanocomposites that rapidly oxidize TMB. These nanocomposites have strong absorption at 650 nm and can be used for highly sensitive colorimetric detection. An environmentally friendly (green), rapid, easy, and cost-effective method was developed for the synthesis of these nanocomposites, which were characterized using ultraviolet-visible, energy-dispersive X-ray, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. This is the first green synthesis of SnO2-Cu nanocomposites. Their enzyme mimetic activity, which was first studied here, was found to be strongly dependent on the temperature and pH value of the solution. The synthesized nanocomposites have the advantages of low cost, high stability, and ease of preparation for enzyme mimetic applications. Hence, SnO2-Cu nanocomposites are a promising alternative to peroxidase enzymes in colorimetric point-of-care diagnostics.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Rahbar ◽  
Yuling Wu ◽  
J. Anand Subramony ◽  
Guozhen Liu

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine, the quantitative detection of which has been extensively considered for diagnosis of inflammatory associated diseases. However, there has not yet been a reliable, low-cost, and user-friendly platform developed for point-of-care (POC) detection of IL-6, which will eliminate the conventional costly, time-consuming, and complex assays. In this work, we developed a lateral flow assay for colorimetric detection of IL-6, using anti-IL-6 antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the detection probes. Silver amplification technique was incorporated with the newly developed assay in order to enhance the obtained colorimetric signals, allowing sensitive detection of IL-6 in human serum in the desired physiological ranges (i.e., 5–1000 pg/mL). A limit of detection of 5 pg/mL could be achieved for IL-6 detection in serum with the amplification step which was not achievable in the standard assay. The corresponding specificity and reproducibility tests were all preformed to confirm the reliability of this assay for quantitative measurement of IL-6 in a POC manner.


Author(s):  
Carla Eiras

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine and high bloodstream levels of which have been associated with severe inflammatory diseases, such as dengue fever, sepsis, various cancers, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Rapid tests for the quantification of IL-6 would be of great assistance for the bedside diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as VL. We have developed a lateral flow assay (LFA) for rapid and colorimetric IL-6 detection, consisting of anti-IL-6 antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The optimal concentration of anti-IL-6 used in the conjugate was determined to be 800.0 μg/mL, based on an aggregation assay using LFA. A linear relationship between IL-6 standard concentration and color intensity was observed after 20 min, with a linear range between 1.25 ng/mL and 9,000 ng/mL. The limit of detection for this method was estimated a t0.38 ng/mL. The concentration of IL-6 in five patients with severe VL was measured using LFA, and the results were consistent with those obtained using the cytometric bead array (CBA) method. A thorough analysis of the LFA membranes’ surface morphology, before and after sample contact, was performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM).The prototype described here is still being tested and improved, but this LFA will undoubtedly be of great help in the clinical quantification of IL-6.


Author(s):  
Carla Eiras

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine and high bloodstream levels of which have been associated with severe inflammatory diseases, such as dengue fever, sepsis, various cancers, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Rapid tests for the quantification of IL-6 would be of great assistance for the bedside diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as VL. We have developed a lateral flow assay (LFA) for rapid and colorimetric IL-6 detection, consisting of anti-IL-6 antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The optimal concentration of anti-IL-6 used in the conjugate was determined to be 800.0 μg/mL, based on an aggregation assay using LFA. A linear relationship between IL-6 standard concentration and color intensity was observed after 20 min, with a linear range between 1.25 ng/mL and 9,000 ng/mL. The limit of detection for this method was estimated at a t0.38 ng/mL. The concentration of IL-6 in five patients with severe VL was measured using LFA, and the results were consistent with those obtained using the cytometric bead array (CBA) method. A thorough analysis of the LFA membranes’ surface morphology, before and after sample contact, was performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The prototype described here is still being tested and improved, but this LFA will undoubtedly be of great help in the clinical quantification of IL-6.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 3985
Author(s):  
Nan Wan ◽  
Yu Jiang ◽  
Jiamei Huang ◽  
Rania Oueslati ◽  
Shigetoshi Eda ◽  
...  

A sensitive and efficient method for microRNAs (miRNAs) detection is strongly desired by clinicians and, in recent years, the search for such a method has drawn much attention. There has been significant interest in using miRNA as biomarkers for multiple diseases and conditions in clinical diagnostics. Presently, most miRNA detection methods suffer from drawbacks, e.g., low sensitivity, long assay time, expensive equipment, trained personnel, or unsuitability for point-of-care. New methodologies are needed to overcome these limitations to allow rapid, sensitive, low-cost, easy-to-use, and portable methods for miRNA detection at the point of care. In this work, to overcome these shortcomings, we integrated capacitive sensing and alternating current electrokinetic effects to detect specific miRNA-16b molecules, as a model, with the limit of detection reaching 1.0 femto molar (fM) levels. The specificity of the sensor was verified by testing miRNA-25, which has the same length as miRNA-16b. The sensor we developed demonstrated significant improvements in sensitivity, response time and cost over other miRNA detection methods, and has application potential at point-of-care.


Biosensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Donggee Rho ◽  
Seunghyun Kim

An optical cavity-based biosensor (OCB) has been developed for point-of-care (POC) applications. This label-free biosensor employs low-cost components and simple fabrication processes to lower the overall cost while achieving high sensitivity using a differential detection method. To experimentally demonstrate its limit of detection (LOD), we conducted biosensing experiments with streptavidin and C-reactive protein (CRP). The optical cavity structure was optimized further for better sensitivity and easier fluid control. We utilized the polymer swelling property to fine-tune the optical cavity width, which significantly improved the success rate to produce measurable samples. Four different concentrations of streptavidin were tested in triplicate, and the LOD of the OCB was determined to be 1.35 nM. The OCB also successfully detected three different concentrations of human CRP using biotinylated CRP antibody. The LOD for CRP detection was 377 pM. All measurements were done using a small sample volume of 15 µL within 30 min. By reducing the sensing area, improving the functionalization and passivation processes, and increasing the sample volume, the LOD of the OCB are estimated to be reduced further to the femto-molar range. Overall, the demonstrated capability of the OCB in the present work shows great potential to be used as a promising POC biosensor.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehe Liu ◽  
Andrew M. Rollins ◽  
Richard M. Levenson ◽  
Farzad Fereidouni ◽  
Michael W. Jenkins

AbstractSmartphone microscopes can be useful tools for a broad range of imaging applications. This manuscript demonstrates the first practical implementation of Microscopy with Ultraviolet Surface Excitation (MUSE) in a compact smartphone microscope called Pocket MUSE, resulting in a remarkably effective design. Fabricated with parts from consumer electronics that are readily available at low cost, the small optical module attaches directly over the rear lens in a smartphone. It enables high-quality multichannel fluorescence microscopy with submicron resolution over a 10× equivalent field of view. In addition to the novel optical configuration, Pocket MUSE is compatible with a series of simple, portable, and user-friendly sample preparation strategies that can be directly implemented for various microscopy applications for point-of-care diagnostics, at-home health monitoring, plant biology, STEM education, environmental studies, etc.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Deepak Kumar Sahu ◽  
Joyce Rai ◽  
Chhaya Bhatt ◽  
Manish K. Rai ◽  
Jyoti Goswami ◽  
...  

In modern age pesticide is used widely in agriculture. Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is one of the most used pesticides which are used as a insecticide to kill pest, tricks, flies etc in agricultural field and it is also used for crop production. We have developed new method to detect LCT insecticide in agriculture field and reduce its uses. In this method we found the maximum absorbance at 460 nm for yellow colour dye. We also calculated limit of detection and limit of quantification 0.001 mg kg-1 and 0.056 mg kg-1 respectively. Molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity was also calculated and obtained 1.782 ×107 mol-1 cm-1 and 9.996 ×10-6 µg cm-2 respectively. The obtained yellow colour dye obeyed Beer’s law limit range of 0.5 µg ml -1 to 16 µg ml-1 in 25 ml. This method is less time consuming, selective, simple, sensitive and low cost. Present method is successfully applied in various soil, water and vegetable samples.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Vizzini ◽  
Marisa Manzano ◽  
Carole Farre ◽  
Thierry Meylheuc ◽  
Carole Chaix ◽  
...  

AbstractPaper-based DNA biosensors are powerful tools in point-of-care diagnostics since they are affordable, portable, user-friendly, rapid and robust. However, their sensitivity is not always as high as required to enable DNA quantification. To improve the response of standard dot blots, we have applied a new enhancement strategy that increases the sensitivity of assays based on the use of biotinylated silica-nanoparticles (biotin-Si-NPs). After immobilization of a genomic Campylobacter DNA onto a paper membrane, and addition of a biotinylated-DNA detection probe, hybridization was evidenced using streptavidin-conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of luminol and H2O2. Replacement of the single biotin by the biotin-Si-NPs boosted on average a 30 fold chemiluminescent read-out of the biosensor. Characterization of biotin-Si-NPs onto a paper with immobilized DNA was done using a scanning electron microscope. A limit of detection of 3 pg/μL of DNA, similar to the available qPCR kits, is achieved, but it is cheaper, easier and avoids inhibition of DNA polymerase by molecules from the food matrices. We demonstrated that the new dot blot coupled to biotin-Si-NPs successfully detected Campylobacter from naturally contaminated chicken meat, without needing a PCR step. Hence, such an enhanced dot blot paves the path to the development of a portable and multiplex paper based platform for point-of-care screening of chicken carcasses for Campylobacter.Graphical abstract


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