A sensitive on‐chip probe–based portable nuclear magnetic resonance for detecting low parasitaemia plasmodium falciparum in human blood

Abstract

Malaria elimination programmes are dependent on a rapid, cost‐effective and portable diagnostic tool to detect and quantify malaria parasites in human blood. Herein, we report a cost‐effective and portable nuclear magnetic resonance (pNMR) for malaria diagnosis. In this present study, we have developed and characterized a sensitive and low‐cost novel on‐chip NMR probe. This NMR probe has improved mismatching problem between radiofrequency (RF) coil and transmission line that results in enhancement in NMR sensitivity. Developed pNMR represents a rapid, cost‐effective and highly sensitive method to detect very low parasitaemia plasmodium falciparum (0.0001%) in infected human blood in comparison with other available malaria diagnosis techniques. The experimental results show that very low parasitic load can be detected rapidly by the change in the transverse relaxation rate (T2) of NMR, suggesting a good sensitivity. A good linear relationship with a correlation coefficient of 0.94 between the change in transverse relaxation rate (ΔT2) and the different parasitaemia (%) has been observed, indicating that pNMR is a potential tool for real‐time, reusable and high‐sensitivity analysis of malaria parasite in human blood.

Alteration of Platelet Count in Patients with Severe Non-Plasmodium falciparum Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In addition to identifying new candidate makers for severe malaria, new diagnostic tools for detecting malaria parasites are challenging. Recently, magnetic resonance relaxometry (MRR) [ 73 , 74 , 75 ], on-chip nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) [ 76 ], rotating-crystal magneto-optical detection (RMOD) [ 77 ], and fluorescent blue-ray optical devices [ 78 ] have emerged as high-sensitivity malaria diagnostic tools to detect low parasite density in asymptomatic individuals. These new diagnostic tools will help increase the detection of malaria parasites and provide early treatment to patients, which can reduce malaria transmission, reducing the rate of misdiagnosis or mis-treatment that can facilitate severe malaria or anti-malarial drug resistance.…”

Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests: Literary Review and Recommendation for a Quality Assurance, Quality Control Algorithm

“…Another novel technology utilizes portable nuclear magnetic resonance (pNMR) technology. NMR has historically been expensive, but there are moves to make the technology smaller and cheaper [ 159 ]. Rotating-crystal magneto-optical detection (RMOD) utilizes the different magnetic properties of malaria infected blood because the Plasmodium infection results in hemoglobin breakdown that liberates the iron-containing organic crystal called hemozoin [ 160 ].…”

Multi-Omics Advancements towards Plasmodium vivax Malaria Diagnosis

“…The advancements in technology-driven malaria diagnosis devices include microfluidics-based devices for cell-based diagnosis targeting hemozoin crystals in red blood cells (RBCs) [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ], immuno-chromatographic tests (ICT) for the quantitative analysis of parasite protein (e.g., pfHRPII [ 7 ] or pLDH [ 8 ] { P. falciparum specific}, pLDH { P. vivax , P. ovale , and P. malariae -pan} [ 9 ], aldolase {pan} [ 8 ]) in the blood sample, 2-D paper matrix prototypes with dried reagents for quantitative analysis of parasite protein in the blood sample [ 10 ], and the DxBox 3-D plastic device [ 11 ] for differential diagnosis purposes. Spectrometry-based micro-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (micro-NMR) [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ] for diagnosing malaria, and mass spectrometry-based proteomics for host proteins [ 17 , 18 , 19 ] and parasite proteins [ 19 , 20 , 21 ] have also shown promising results in the laboratory setup ( Figure 1 a). In parallel to the advances on the technology front, the development of different omics approaches has been explored to achieve ideal biomarker candidates [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…In short, we will discuss the recent development of omics-based malaria biomarkers [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] ( Figure 1 , Table 2 ) and the emergence of malaria diagnosis technologies targeting the inorganic biocrystal (hemozoin) as a marker. Hemozoin is a by-product of heme utilisation through various redox transitioning for the parasite’s survival during the intra-erythrocyte cycle [ 2 , 3 , 12 , 14 , 15 ]. Omics-based comprehensive analysis and exploration provide a panel of biomolecules with high throughput techniques to answer various questions related to diagnostics, parasite species differentiation, the antimalarial status of the infecting parasite, and prognosis.…”