Biosensors to Diagnose Chagas Disease: A Brief Review

Abstract

Chagas disease (CD), which mostly affects those living in deprived areas, has become one of Latin America’s main public health problems. Effective prevention of the disease requires early diagnosis, initiation of therapy, and regular blood monitoring of the infected individual. However, the majority of the Trypanosoma cruzi infections go undiagnosed because of mild symptoms, limited access to medical attention and to a high variability in the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests. Consequently, more affordable and accessible detection technologies capable of providing early diagnosis and T. cruzi load measurements in settings where CD is most prevalent are needed to enable enhanced intervention strategies. This work analyzes the potential contribution of biosensing technologies, reviewing examples that have been tested and contrasted with traditional methods, both serological and parasitological (i.e., molecular detection by PCR), and discusses some emerging biosensing technologies that have been applied for this public health issue. Even if biosensing technologies still require further research efforts to develop portable systems, we arrive at the conclusion that biosensors could improve the accuracy of CD diagnosis and the follow-up of patients’ treatments in terms of the rapidity of results, small sample volume, high integration, ease of use, real-time and low cost detection when compared with current conventional technologies.

Integrated potentiostat for detection of Chagas disease

“…Comparing with the potentiostat used in Cortina et al and the one in this work provides compatible electrical specifications and all the advantages of an ASIC. This method for detection of Chagas disease has shown similar accuracy to traditional methods, as is reported in Rocha‐Gaso et al and Cortina et al…”

“…This procedure requires highly qualified personnel, which results in high costs and a need for well‐equipped installations, which are not always available in impoverished areas in rural South America . These drawbacks could be overcome by a simple and robust tool, which allows in situ diagnosis that could be operated by local health workers, as is proposed by the project point‐of‐care print (PoC‐print) …”

“…Over the last few years, lab ‐ on ‐ chip platforms for Chagas disease diagnosis have been reported, which display excellent results when compared with traditional methods, adding portability and shorter incubation times . However, due to the traditional silicon‐based technologies, the cost of these platforms is too high, hindering its market application.…”

Chagas Disease Treatment Efficacy Biomarkers: Myths and Realities

“…A biosensor is an analytical device that converts molecular recognition of a target analyte into a measurable signal via a transducer. Depending on the type of transducer that is employed, they may be electrochemical, acoustic, or optical [77,78]. To develop a biosensor, a biologically active component needs to be immobilized onto the surface of the transducer; once the target analyte is recognized, a signal response in the sensor is generated, and the signal can be amplified and measured in an electronic system that acquires and records the signal [78].…”

“…Depending on the type of transducer that is employed, they may be electrochemical, acoustic, or optical [77,78]. To develop a biosensor, a biologically active component needs to be immobilized onto the surface of the transducer; once the target analyte is recognized, a signal response in the sensor is generated, and the signal can be amplified and measured in an electronic system that acquires and records the signal [78]. Biosensors are easy to use, give results in real time and require small sample volumes and short assay times, and have a low energy consumption, which make them excellent tools for point-of-care (PoC) units.…”