Journal Article

Home-Based Electrochemical Rapid Sensor (HERS): A Diagnostic Tool for Bacterial Vaginosis

Mitchell, Evelyn, Mousavi, Maral P. S., Banks, Melissa, Amirghasemi, Farbod

2023

Overview

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most frequently occurring vaginal infection worldwide, yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed as a majority of patients are asymptomatic. Untreated BV poses a serious threat as it increases one’s risk of STI acquisition, pregnancy complications, and infertility. We aim to minimize these risks by creating a low-cost disposable sensor for at-home BV diagnosis. A clinical diagnosis of BV is most commonly made according to the Amsel criteria. In this method, a fish-like odor, caused by increased levels of trimethylamine (TMA) in vaginal fluid, is used as a key diagnostic. This paper outlines the development of a Home-Based Electrochemical Rapid Sensor (HERS), capable of detecting TMA in simulated vaginal fluid (sVF). Instead of odor-based detection of volatilized TMA, we identify TMA in trimethylammonium form by utilizing HERS and a potentiometric readout. We fabricated the ion selective electrode using a carbon-black-coated cotton string and a TMA-selective membrane consisting of calix[4]arene and sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate. When paired with a standard reference electrode, our device was able to quantify TMA concentration in deionized (DI) water, as well as sVF samples at multiple pH levels with a clinically relevant limit of detection (8.66 µM, and theoretically expected Nernstian slope of 55.14 mV/decade).

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Animals / Bacteria / bacterial vaginosis / Body Fluids / Borates / Carbon black / Chloride / Electric properties / Electrodes / Female / female reproductive health / Fertility / Flowers / Gynecology / Health aspects / HIV / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Infection / Infections / Lab-on-a-chip / Methylamines / Odors / point-of-care sensor / Potassium / potentiometry / Pregnancy / Premature birth / Sensors / Sexual intercourse / Smell / Sodium / thread-based sensor / trimethylamine / Vagina / Vaginosis / Vaginosis, Bacterial - diagnosis / VOCs / Volatile organic compounds / Womens health / Yarn