A Compact, Low-Cost, and Binary Sensing (BiSense) Platform for Noise-Free and Self-Validated Impedimetric Detection of COVID-19 Infected Patients

21 Pages Posted: 12 Apr 2022

See all articles by Razieh Salahandish

Razieh Salahandish

University of Calgary

Pezhman Jalali

University of Calgary

Hamed Osouli Tabrizi

York University

Jae Eun Hyun

University of Calgary

Fatemeh Haghayegh

University of Calgary

Mahmood Khalghollah

University of Calgary

Azam Zare

University of Calgary

Byron M. Berenger

University of Calgary - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Yan Dong Niu

University of Calgary

Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh

York University

Amir Sanati Nezhad

University of Calgary - BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

Electrochemical immuno-biosensors are one of the most promising approaches for accurate, rapid, and quantitative detection of protein biomarkers. However, the realization of multiplex electrochemical point-of-care testing (ME-POCT) requires the advancement in portable, rapid reading, easy-to-use, and low-cost multichannel potentiostat readers. The combined multiplex biosensor strips and multichannel readers allow for suppressing the possible complex matrix effect or ultra-sensitive detection of different protein biomarkers. Herein, a handheld binary-sensing (BiSense) bi-potentiostat was developed to perform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based signal acquisition from a custom-designed dual working electrode immuno-biosensor. BiSense employs a commercially available microcontroller and out-of-shelf components, offering the cheapest yet accurate and reliable time-domain impedance analyzer. A specific electrical board design was developed and customized for impedance signal analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N)-protein biosensor in spiked samples and alpha variant clinical nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples. BiSense showed the limit of detection (LoD) down to 56 fg/mL for working electrode 1 (WE1) and 68 fg/mL for WE2 and reported with a dynamic detection range of 1 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL for the detection of N-protein in spiked samples. The dual biosensing of N-protein in this work was used as a self-validation of the biosensor. The low-cost (~$40 USD) BiSense bi-potentiostat combined with the immuno-biosensors successfully detected COVID-19 infected patients in less than 10 min, with the BiSense reading period shorter than 1.5 min, demonstrating its potential for the realization of ME-POCTs for rapid and hand-held diagnosis of infections.

Note:
Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research of Canada (NSERC) for their Rapid COVID-19 Response fundings. The authors also acknowledge the Canada Research Chair, NSERC CREATE, Wearable Technology Research and Collaboration (We-TRAC) Training Program (Project No. CREATE/511166-2018), University of Calgary, and CMC – Microsystems, Canada for supporting this research.

Conflict of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval: The clinical testing was performed in a specialized laboratory equipped with Class II Biosafety cabinet and according to the ethics # REB20-1032 and safety protocols confirmed by the University of Calgary

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, electrochemical biosensing, bi-potentiostat, point-of-care, rapid tests

Suggested Citation

Salahandish, Razieh and Jalali, Pezhman and Osouli Tabrizi, Hamed and Eun Hyun, Jae and Haghayegh, Fatemeh and Khalghollah, Mahmood and Zare, Azam and M. Berenger, Byron and Niu, Yan Dong and Ghafar-Zadeh, Ebrahim and Nezhad, Amir Sanati, A Compact, Low-Cost, and Binary Sensing (BiSense) Platform for Noise-Free and Self-Validated Impedimetric Detection of COVID-19 Infected Patients. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4081133 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4081133

Razieh Salahandish

University of Calgary ( email )

University Drive
Calgary, T2N 1N4
Canada

Pezhman Jalali

University of Calgary ( email )

University Drive
Calgary, T2N 1N4
Canada

Hamed Osouli Tabrizi

York University ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, M3J 1P3
Canada

Jae Eun Hyun

University of Calgary ( email )

University Drive
Calgary, T2N 1N4
Canada

Fatemeh Haghayegh

University of Calgary ( email )

University Drive
Calgary, T2N 1N4
Canada

Mahmood Khalghollah

University of Calgary ( email )

University Drive
Calgary, T2N 1N4
Canada

Azam Zare

University of Calgary ( email )

University Drive
Calgary, T2N 1N4
Canada

Byron M. Berenger

University of Calgary - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ( email )

Yan Dong Niu

University of Calgary ( email )

Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh

York University ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, M3J 1P3
Canada

Amir Sanati Nezhad (Contact Author)

University of Calgary - BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory ( email )

Calgary, T2N 1N4
Canada

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