An AC electrokinetic impedance immunosensor for rapid detection of tuberculosis

This work presents an AC electrokinetic impedance sensing method that is capable of detecting specific interactions between macromolecules such as antigen-antibody binding. Serum samples were added to the surface of interdigitated electrodes that had been coated with bacterial antigens. After applying an AC signal of 100 mV at a specific frequency continuously, the electrodes' impedance change was recorded and used to determine the occurrence and level of antibody binding to the antigen. Our theoretical analysis indicated that with this AC signal, the target macromolecules will experience a sufficiently strong attraction force towards the electrode surface for acceleration of the binding process. Using this method, 11 human tuberculosis and 10 bovine tuberculosis serum samples were tested. The results were consistent with those obtained by a conventional ELISA method. The limit of detection of the impedance sensing method was estimated to be better than 10 ng mL(-1). In summary, we demonstrate that AC electrokinetic impedance sensing can be used for rapid and sensitive detection of specific antibodies in serum samples. This method may form a basis for development of a point of care diagnostic device for human and bovine tuberculosis.