Paper and thread as media for the frugal detection of urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) make up a significant proportion of the global burden of disease in vulnerable groups and tend to substantially impair the quality of life of those affected, making timely detection of UTIs a priority for public health. However, economic and societal barriers drastically reduce accessibility of traditional lab-based testing methods for critical patient groups in low-resource areas, negatively affecting their overall healthcare outcomes. As a result, cellulose-based materials such as paper and thread have garnered significant interest among researchers as substrates for so-called frugal analytical devices which leverage the material’s portability and adaptability for facile and reproducible diagnoses of UTIs. Although the field may be only in its infancy, strategies aimed at commercial penetration can appreciably increase access to more healthcare options for at-risk people. In this review, we catalogue recent advances in devices that use cellulose-based materials as the primary housing or medium for UTI detection and chart out trends in the field. We also explore different modalities employed for detection, with particular emphasis on their ability to be ported onto discreet casings such as sanitary products. Graphical abstract

Comparison of paper-based nucleic acid extraction materials for point-of-care testing applications

“…To further verify the feasibility of these paper-based materials to other sample, in the future, paper-based materials will be used to extract nucleic acid from some non-invasive body fluids samples such as urine, saliva, vaginal discharge and sewage (Hasandka et al 2022 ). In addition, these paper-based materials hold great potential for sample storage, sample concentration and detection.…”

Foldscope microscope, an inexpensive alternative tool to conventional microscopy—Applications in research and education: A review

“…Foldscope‐assisted diagnostic technology appears to be highly promising for detecting pathogenic microorganisms that cause diseases in rural and distant places, where thorough screening instruments occur to be inaccessible (Garg et al, 2021). Kaur et al, 2020, investigated the use of foldscopes in the diagnosis of dental plaque and urinary infections (Hasandka et al, 2021). Foldscope was a powerful tool for discovering and studying cancer‐causing cells in their early stages (Jadhav & Patil, 2021; Santonicco et al, 2022).…”

“…Dudhani & Jain, 2020, compared the diagnostic usefulness of a foldscope to that of a standard bright field microscope in patients with lung infections and dermatophyte fungal illnesses (Dudhani & Jain, 2020). Despite the fact that the foldscope predominantly employs the wet mount method for diagnosis, it was the most widely utilized equipment for identifying fungal infections (Parmar et al, 2021).…”

“…Currently, there is no report of using foldscope in forensic science. However, it might help in forensic laboratories, by reducing their burden (Arora, 2014; Dudhani & Jain, 2020).…”

Embellishing 2-D MoS2 Nanosheets on Lotus Thread Devices for Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Antimicrobial Activity

“…So far, researchers have been looking for appealing substrate materials for decades to keep microfluidics advancing and overcome the disadvantages and difficulties such as tedious and expensive fabrication methods. Because of their unique structural and mechanical qualities, cellulose substrates such as thread and paper are considered as viable solutions for various applications. − Thread has demonstrated many potential applications in diagnostic systems, smart bandages, and tissue engineering . Thread-based microfluidics is still in its infancy, and additional developments in manufacturing, analytical methodologies, and function are required before they can be commercialized as low-cost, low-volume, and simple-to-use point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices. − Because of its features like flexibility, portability, biodegradability, lightweight, high tensile strength, and availability, several attempts have been made to employ thread for low-cost diagnostics or detection, among other low-cost materials such as paper and plastic. − Liquid wicking in the thread is caused by the twisted strands of cellulose fiber and the space between them.…”