Spatially Multiplexed Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Infectious respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19 and influenza, pose a disproportionate burden on those who live in low resource settings (LRS). A key driver of this inequality is the lack of access to testing and diagnostics. Without centralized laboratories capable of testing patient samples, carriers cannot be easily identified and treated, leading to spread. The gold standard diagnostics often require expensive reagents, equipment, and trained personnel that are difficult to deploy in LRS. Electrochemical biosensors, which combine biorecognition elements with electrochemical readout to enable sensitive and specific sensing using inexpensive, simple equipment, are a major area of research for the development of “point-of-care” (POC) diagnostics that can be utilized in LRS. However, even these platforms remain limited, as some electrodes require fabrication in cleanrooms. In this talk, I describe a spatially-multiplexed electrode fabricated on benchtop from inexpensive gold leaf for the detection of multiple respiratory infections.