A 3D-printed cassette coupled with a paper-based aptasensor for advanced diagnosis of chikungunya virus towards commercialization

Abstract

Electrochemical sensors have attracted significant attention because of their vital role in the early identification of infectious diseases, indicating their usefulness in various diagnostic applications. Here, the present study reports the development of paper-based electrochemical aptasensors integrated into a 3D printed cassette for chikungunya virus detection at the point of care. The sensor is functionalised with a highly specific aptamer and employs silver nanoparticles to enhance electrochemical sensitivity. This biosensor can detect 0.1 ng ml⁻¹ to 1 μg ml⁻¹ with a 20-second response time. Furthermore, its long shelf life of up to 30 days demonstrates that it remains reliable even under continuous use. Moreover, the applicability and effectiveness of the newly developed 3D-incorporated aptasensor were evaluated by introducing the CHIKV antigen into blood serum samples. The sensor demonstrated no cross-reactivity with the dengue (DENV) antigen. These modern biosensing technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare in the coming years by providing globally accessible and affordable high-quality diagnostics.