title: Dengue virus detection using impedance measured across nanoporous alumina membrane.
abstract: The prevalence of dengue around the world makes it critical to develop a simple diagnostic device that can be easily handled by end users and provides fast results. In this paper, we described the use of a small and thin piece of alumina membrane, 60 μm thick and 13 mm in diameter as the sensing platform for the detection of dengue infection. The electrochemical setup is simplified by using the membrane as both the working and the counter electrode. This is achieved by coating both sides of the membrane with a submicron layer of platinum. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was utilized for the characterization of the immunosensor as well as the acquisition of data. The change in the pore resistance of the membrane displayed a good correlation with the concentration of the dengue 2 and dengue 3 viruses in plaque forming unit (PFU mL⁻¹), giving detection limit of 0.230 PFU mL⁻¹ and 0.710 PFU mL⁻¹ respectively. This thin piece of membrane sensor, coupled with the simple electrochemical setup, fast detection time of 40 min and high sensitivity, showed potential to be developed into a disposable point-of-care diagnostic tool for clinical uses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
authors.forename: Alister En Kai
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Peh
authors.forename: Sam Fong Yau
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000537:Aluminum Oxide