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Amperometric immunosensor for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Morgan Hiraiwa1, Jong-Hoon Kim2, Hyun-Boo Lee1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.
Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering : Structures, Devices, and Systems
|June 23, 2015
Summary
This study presents a novel amperometric biosensor for rapid tuberculosis diagnosis. The portable device offers sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection in sputum, crucial for low-resource settings.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Microbiology
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating improved diagnostic tools for effective control.
- Accurate and rapid detection methods are critical, especially in resource-limited settings for point-of-care (POC) applications.
- Current diagnostic methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) can be time-consuming and require specialized laboratory infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a simple, portable, and sensitive amperometric biosensor for the rapid detection of MTB in sputum.
- To investigate the use of a microtip immunoassay for MTB capture and electrical current-based detection.
- To optimize the biosensor for enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and reliable performance in POC settings.
Main Methods:
- An amperometric biosensor utilizing a functionalized microtip immunoassay was designed for MTB detection.
- Numerical studies were conducted to analyze the relationship between current signal and microtip immersion depth.
- A coffee ring effect was employed to concentrate bacteria on the microtip surface, amplifying the electrical signal.
- Sample processing and rinsing steps were optimized using deionized water for amperometric measurement.
Main Results:
- The biosensor demonstrated a linear relationship between the current signal and microtip immersion depth.
- Immersion depth was compensated using a reference microtip for accurate measurements.
- The coffee ring effect effectively concentrated MTB, leading to amplified electrical current.
- The biosensor achieved a detection limit of 100 CFU/mL for cultured MTB cells in human sputum.
Conclusions:
- The developed amperometric biosensor offers a rapid, low-cost, and sensitive method for MTB detection in sputum.
- The microtip immunoassay combined with electrical detection provides a viable approach for point-of-care TB diagnostics.
- This technology has the potential to improve TB control strategies, particularly in resource-limited environments.
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