MIP-based electrochemical sensor for direct detection of hepatitis C virus via E2 envelope protein

Hepatitis C is the most common liver disease caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and can evolve into serious health problems e.g. cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Nowadays, the initial stage of the disease cannot be practically diagnosed, representing thus an extremely important problem of modern public health care. This study is aimed at the development of a sensor for direct detection of HCV. The sensor utilizes a synthetic recognition element prepared by the technology of molecular imprinting and representing a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) having molecular recognition sites of HCV envelope protein E2 (E2-MIP). E2-MIP integrated into an electrochemical sensor platform allows quantitative evaluation of binding of free E2 protein as well as HCV-mimetic particles (HCV-MPs) in human plasma with LOD value of 4.6 × 10^-4 ng/mL (for HCV-MPs). The developed electrochemical HCV sensor represents a simple, fast and inexpensive alternative for the existing methods of HCV detection and paves the way for the point-of care diagnostics of Hepatitis C.

Designing and fabrication of new VIP biosensor for the rapid and selective detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)

Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), is a highly contagious virus due to its ease of transmission. FMDV has seven genetically distinguished serotypes with many subtypes within each serotype. The traditional diagnostic methods of FMDV have demonstrated many drawbacks related to sensitivity, specificity, and cross-reactivity. In the current study, a new viral imprinted polymer (VIP)-based biosensor was designed and fabricated for the rapid and selective detection of the FMDV. The bio-recognition components were formed via electrochemical polymerization of the oxidized O-aminophenol (O-AP) film imprinted with FMDV serotype O on a gold screen-printed electrode (SPE). The overall changes in the design template have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Optimal conditions were achieved through investigating the capturing efficiency, binding stability, selectivity and life-time of the developed biosensor. The results depicted a high selectivity of the biosensor to the serotype O over all other genus serotypes A, SAT2 and Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), as well as, the inactivated serotype O. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were around 2 ng/mL and 6 ng/mL, respectively, in addition to the tested repeatability and reproducibility values with a variance coefficient of 1.0% and 3.6%, respectively. In comparison with the reference methods (ELISA and PCR), the analysis of saliva real samples using the developed affordable biosensor offered 50 folds lower LOD with the possibility of an on-line monitoring in the field with no prior sample treatment.