scholarly journals Smartphone-Based Device for Colorimetric Detection of MicroRNA Biomarkers Using Nanoparticle-Based Assay

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 8044
Author(s):  
Tushar Krishnan ◽  
Hsin-Neng Wang ◽  
Tuan Vo-Dinh

The detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) is emerging as a clinically important tool for the non-invasive detection of a wide variety of diseases ranging from cancers and cardiovascular illnesses to infectious diseases. Over the years, miRNA detection schemes have become accessible to clinicians, but they still require sophisticated and bulky laboratory equipment and trained personnel to operate. The exceptional computing ability and ease of use of modern smartphones coupled with fieldable optical detection technologies can provide a useful and portable alternative to these laboratory systems. Herein, we present the development of a smartphone-based device called Krometriks, which is capable of simple and rapid colorimetric detection of microRNA (miRNAs) using a nanoparticle-based assay. The device consists of a smartphone, a 3D printed accessory, and a custom-built dedicated mobile app. We illustrate the utility of Krometriks for the detection of an important miRNA disease biomarker, miR-21, using a nanoplasmonics-based assay developed by our group. We show that Krometriks can detect miRNA down to nanomolar concentrations with detection results comparable to a laboratory-based benchtop spectrophotometer. With slight changes to the accessory design, Krometriks can be made compatible with different types of smartphone models and specifications. Thus, the Krometriks device offers a practical colorimetric platform that has the potential to provide accessible and affordable miRNA diagnostics for point-of-care and field applications in low-resource settings.

Author(s):  
Awaiz Khan ◽  
Edmundo Rubio ◽  
Bradley Icard

Abstract This project sought to develop a method to provide a clinically meaningful, surrogate measure for viscosity that will help analyze complex biofluids. Goals for this project included precise measurements that differentiate a wide variety of standard viscosities, table-top level of size, and ease-of-use. The design utilized a custom 3D-printed analog of a cone and plate viscometer with an attachment for a smartphone to provide gyroscopic data. The device is currently in the stages of final validation and will ultimately be tested in a 40-patient clinical trial intended to assess efficacy of mucolytic therapy in mechanically ventilated patients.


Author(s):  
Everardo González-González ◽  
Itzel Montserrat Lara-Mayorga ◽  
Iram Pablo Rodríguez-Sánchez ◽  
Felipe Yee-de León ◽  
Andrés García-Rubio ◽  
...  

AbstractBy the third week of June 2020, more than 8,500,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and more than 450,000 deaths had been officially reported worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Latin America, India, and Africa—territories in which the mounted infrastructure for diagnosis is greatly underdeveloped. Here, we demonstrate the combined use of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed incubation chamber for commercial Eppendorf PCR tubes, and a colorimetric embodiment of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction scheme for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids. We used this strategy to detect and amplify SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequences using a set of in-house designed initiators that target regions encoding the N protein. We were able to detect and amplify SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids in the range of 62 to 2 × 105 DNA copies by this straightforward method. Using synthetic SARS-CoV-2 samples and a limited number of RNA extracts from patients, we also demonstrate that colorimetric LAMP is a quantitative method comparable in diagnostic performance to RT-qPCR. We envision that LAMP may greatly enhance the capabilities for COVID-19 testing in situations where RT-qPCR is not feasible or is unavailable. Moreover, the portability, ease of use, and reproducibility of this strategy make it a reliable alternative for deployment of point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 detection efforts during the pandemics.


Author(s):  
Stephen Chadwick ◽  
David A Townes ◽  
Lucy A Perrone

Abstract Background In 2019, there were 70.8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Among the top causes of morbidity and mortality were measles, diarrhea, respiratory illness, and malaria. Availability of accurate diagnostics that are of low complexity, affordable, and produce timely results on site without the need for expensive laboratory equipment, extensive training, or distant transport of samples, are essential tools in the response to humanitarian emergencies (HE). Early detection of infectious diseases with epidemic potential and coordinated outbreak response, can result in significant decrease in morbidity and mortality. Content This review explores the utility of point of care and rapid diagnostic tests (POCT/RDTs) in HE and presents a review and analysis of the low complexity, availability, and ease of use of these diagnostic modalities that make them helpful tools in these settings, despite the generally lower test performance metrics associated with them over conventional laboratory-based assays. We review the literature to understand how POCT/RDTs have been used in HE response to produce lifesaving information without the need for a robust system for transporting test samples to more sophisticated laboratories, as this is often prohibitive in areas affected by conflict or natural disasters. Summary We propose that POCT/RDTs be considered essential healthcare tools provided to countries following a HE and suggest that UN agencies and vulnerable countries include effective RDTs in their essential diagnostics as part of their national preparedness and response plans.


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.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sooyoung Yoo ◽  
Kahyun Lim ◽  
Se Young Jung ◽  
Keehyuck Lee ◽  
Donghyun Lee ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The US Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, which was intended to stimulate the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems, has been amended to cover the behavioral health sector. Consequently, there is an increased need for research on the adoption of behavioral EHR systems by healthcare professionals. Various quantitative studies based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model and technology acceptance model have been conducted in the general medical sectors, but few studies have been conducted in the behavioral sector and they have all been interview-based qualitative studies. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the adoption and implementation of a behavioral EHR system for behavioral clinical professionals through a modified clinical adoption (CA) research model quantitative study. METHODS We modified the existing CA framework to be suitable for evaluating the adoption of the EHR system by behavioral clinical professionals. The existing CA framework did not present questionnaire items. Accordingly, we designed a questionnaire with items that fit into the dimensions of the CA framework and it was verified through the review of behavioral clinical professionals and a pre-survey. The full-scale survey was administered in 5 US behavioral hospitals. The data were analyzed using a structural equation analysis. Additionally, open-ended question responses were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS We derived a total of 7 dimensions, excluding dimensions that were evaluated as inappropriate for behavioral clinical professionals to respond. In addition, for 2 dimensions, 2 sub-dimensions were classified. A total of 409 behavioral clinical experts from 5 hospitals were surveyed. The ease of use and organizational support significantly influenced the use of the behavioral EHR system. Although the results were not significant, information quality (path coefficient=1.19, P>.05) and service quality (path coefficient=.085, P>.05) tended to influence the ease of use of the system. And Ease of Use (path coefficient=.253, P<.05) and the Organization (path coefficient=.802, P<.05) influenced the use of the system. The qualitative results indicated that the greatest advantage of the adoption of the behavioral EHR system was the ability to search for information quickly, work efficiently, and access patient information even outside of the hospital through the mobile app, resulting in having more time with patients. Conversely, the greatest disadvantage was an overdependence on the EHR system. Many staff members voiced concerns that their work could be paralyzed when the system was unstable. CONCLUSIONS This study designed a model for evaluating behavioral EHR adoption and conducted a quantitative study to derive the factors associated with the successful introduction of an EHR system in a behavioral environment. CLINICALTRIAL The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) (IRB No.: B-1904-534-301).


Author(s):  
J.A.D.C.A. Jayakody ◽  
E.A.G.A. Edirisinghe ◽  
S. Lokuliyana

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.


The Analyst ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianshu Chu ◽  
Huili Wang ◽  
Yumeng Qiu ◽  
Haoxi Luo ◽  
Bingfang He ◽  
...  

Wearable sensors play a key role in point-of-care testing (POCT) for its flexible and integration capability on sensitive physiological and biochemical sensing. Here, we present a multifunction wearable silk patch...


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