Electropolymerized-molecularly imprinted polymers (E-MIPS) as sensing elements for the detection of dengue infection

A straightforward in situ detection method for dengue infection was demonstrated through the molecular imprinting of a dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) epitope into an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polyterthiophene (E-MIP) film sensor. The key enabling step in the sensor fabrication is based on an epitope imprinting strategy, in which short peptide sequences derived from the original target molecules were employed as the main template for detection and analysis. The formation of the E-MIP sensor films was facilitated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and monitored in situ by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EC-QCM). Surface properties were analyzed using different techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and polarization modulation-infrared reflection-adsorption (PM-IRRAS). The standard calibration curve (R = 0.9830) was generated for the detection of the epitope, Ac-VHTWTE-QYKFQ- NH2, with a linear range of 0.2 to 30 mu g/mL and detection limit of 0.073 mu g/mL. A separate calibration curve (R = 0.9786) was obtained using spiked buffered solutions of dengue NS1 protein, which resulted in a linear range of 0.2 to 10 mu g/ mL and a detection limit of 0.056 mu g/mL. The fabricated E-MIP sensor exhibited long-term stability, high sensitivity, and good selectivity towards the targeted molecules. These results indicated that the formation of the exact and stable cavity imprints in terms of size, shape, and functionalities was successful. In our future work, we aim to use our E- MIP sensors for NS1 detection in real-life samples such as serum and blood.

Automated summary

A straightforward in situ detection method for dengue infection was demonstrated using an E-MIP film sensor with an imprinted NS1 epitope. The fabrication of the sensor films was monitored in situ and analyzed using various techniques, resulting in calibration curves for detecting the epitope and NS1 protein. The fabricated sensor exhibited long-term stability, high sensitivity, and good selectivity, showing potential for real-life NS1 detection in serum and blood samples in future applications.