Immobilization of Leishmania antigens for rapid diagnosis of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

BARRAZA, DANIELA ESTEFANÍA; NANNI, PAULA I.; CHAILE, ROBERTO E.; ACUÑA, LEONARDO; MARCO, JORGE DIEGO; MADRID, ROSSANA E.

San Juan

Congreso; XXIII CONGRESO ARGENTINO DE BIOINGENIERÍA Y XII JORNADAS DE INGENIERÍA CLÍNICA; 2022

Sociedad Argentina de Bioingeniería

American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) is endemic and generally affects people with limited economic resources in rural or peri-urban areas, who mostly require the attention of the public health system in Argentina. ATL is currently diagnosed through parasitological and serological methods, which require highly trained personnel, and consume a lot of time and money. Paper-based analytical devices introduce innovative technology for fluid handling and analysis, with a wide range of applications, promoting low cost, ease of manufacture/operation, and independence from the use of robust equipment. The objective of this work was to immobilize L. (V.) braziliensis antigens on nitrocellulose paper, and to identify the optimal concentrations of AG and AB for later use in the diagnosis of patients with ATL. Through a simple method, it was possible to immobilize the AG of L. (V.) braziliensis, and to detect by means of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) the immunoreaction Ag-AB. A working AG concentration of 180 µg/mL and a dilution of serum pool of 1/60 produced the greater difference between the serum signals (+) and (-) for ATL. These results constitute the first proof of concept of the use of EIS for the detection of ATL, which will allow, in the future, carrying out the analysis of real samples in patients.