High selective spectroelectrochemical biosensor for HCV-RNA detection based on a specific peptide nucleic acid

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Infectious Disease Diagnostics

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a significant global health challenge, with Egypt experiencing the world's largest epidemic.
• Early and accurate detection of HCV is crucial for managing liver failure and public health.
• Existing diagnostic methods often require extensive sample preparation, highlighting the need for rapid, sensitive biosensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, rapid, and highly selective biosensor for the early detection of Hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA).
• To create a sensitive diagnostic tool for clinical samples, addressing the high prevalence of HCV in Egypt.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a biosensor using gold nanodots on an indium tin oxide substrate.
• Immobilization of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) as bio-receptors onto the gold nanodots.
• Utilizing Raman spectroscopy and Square Wave Voltammetry to detect the hybridization between PNA and HCV-RNA in the 5'-untranslated region.

Main Results:

• The developed biosensor demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting HCV-RNA.
• The detection principle relies on the specific hybridization of PNA with target HCV-RNA sequences.
• The biosensor successfully detected HCV-RNA from clinical samples.

Conclusions:

• The novel HCV-based biosensor shows significant potential for early and accurate diagnosis of Hepatitis C virus infection.
• This technology can contribute to improved public health strategies for combating the HCV epidemic.
• The biosensor's design offers a promising platform for rapid point-of-care diagnostics.