Abstract:
Leptospirosis is an underestimated tropical disease caused by the pathogenic Leptospira species and responsible for several serious health problems. Here, we aimed to develop an ultrasen-sitive DNA biosensor for the rapid and on-site detection of the Loa22 gene of Leptospira interrogans using a gold nanoparticle–carbon nanofiber composite (AuN/CNF)-based screen-printed electrode. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance were performed for electrochemical analysis. The sensitivity of the sensor was 5431.74 µA/cm2 /ng with a LOD (detection limit) of 0.0077 ng/µL using cyclic voltammetry. The developed DNA biosensor was found highly specific to the Loa22 gene of L. interrogans, with a storage stability at 4◦ C for 180 days and a 6% loss of the initial response. This DNA-based sensor only takes 30 min for rapid detection of the pathogen, with a higher specificity and sensitivity. The promising results obtained suggest the application of the developed sensor as a point of care device for the diagnosis of leptospirosis. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
