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Colorimetric cellulose-based test-strip for rapid detection of amyloid β-42

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Abstract

An innovative sensing assay is described for point-of-care (PoC) quantification of a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid β-42 (Aβ-42). This device is based on a cellulose paper-dye test strip platform in which the corresponding detection layer is integrated by applying a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) to the cellulose paper surface. Briefly, the cellulose paper is chemically modified with a silane to subsequently apply the MIP detection layer. The imprinting process is confirmed by the parallel preparation of a control material, namely a non-imprinted polymer (NIP). The chemical changes of the surface were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Proteins and peptides can be quantified by conventional staining methods. For this purpose, Coomassie blue (CB) was used as a staining dye for the detection and quantification of Aβ-42. Quantitative determination is made possible by taking a photograph and applying an appropriate mathematical treatment to the color coordinates provided by the ImageJ program. The MIP shows a linear range between 1.0 ng/mL and 10 μg/mL and a detection limit of 0.71 ng/mL. Overall, this cellulose-based assay is suitable for the detection of peptides or proteins in a sample by visual comparison of color change. The test strip provides a simple, instrument-free, and cost-effective method with high chemical stability, capable of detecting very small amounts of peptides or proteins in a sample, and can be used for the detection of any (bio)molecule of interest.

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Acknowledgements

0624_2IQBIONEURO_6_E, Impulso de una red de I + i en química biológica para diagnóstico y tratamiento de enfermedades neurológicas EP - INTERREG V A España Portugal (POCTEP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BioMark@ISEP, School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal

    Felismina T.C. Moreira, Barbara P. Correia & Mariana P. Sousa

  2. CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, Minho University, Braga, Portugal

    Felismina T.C. Moreira, Barbara P. Correia, Mariana P. Sousa & Goreti F. Sales

  3. BioMark@UC, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, R. Sílvio Lima, pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Goreti F. Sales

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  1. Felismina T.C. Moreira
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Moreira, F.T., Correia, B.P., Sousa, M.P. et al. Colorimetric cellulose-based test-strip for rapid detection of amyloid β-42. Microchim Acta 188, 334 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-04996-7

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