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3D-Printed COVID-19 immunosensors with electronic readout
Jose Muñoz1, Martin Pumera1,2,3,4
1Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology (CEITEC-BUT), Brno 61600, Czech Republic.
Chemical Engineering Journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996)
|August 16, 2021
Summary
This study introduces the first 3D-printed COVID-19 immunosensor using a graphene-based electrode for rapid antigen detection. This innovation enables low-cost, point-of-care diagnostics for infectious diseases.
Area of Science:
- Bioengineering
- Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- 3D printing facilitates rapid production of medical devices during pandemics.
- 3D-printed electronic devices for antigen testing remain largely unexplored.
- Developing accessible diagnostic tools is crucial for managing infectious disease outbreaks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop the first 3D-printed COVID-19 immunosensor prototype with an electronic readout.
- To establish a general biofunctionalization approach for 3D-printed electrochemical sensors.
- To demonstrate the potential of 3D printing for point-of-care diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 3D-printed graphene-based nanocomposite electrode.
- Surface engineering via covalent anchoring of COVID-19 recombinant protein.
- Impedimetric monitoring of antibody interaction using a competitive assay and redox marker.
Main Results:
- The 3D-printed immunosensor demonstrated robust electroanalytical performance in buffered and serum samples.
- An excellent linear response was observed with a low detection limit (0.5 ± 0.1 μg·mL⁻¹).
- The developed system shows promise for detecting COVID-19 antibodies.
Conclusions:
- This work presents a novel 3D-printed immunosensor for COVID-19 detection.
- The technology leverages decentralized 3D printing for low-cost, point-of-care diagnostics.
- This approach is adaptable for detecting other SARS-related diseases.
