Original ArticleA novel method for dengue virus detection and antibody screening using a graphene-polymer based electrochemical biosensor

Dengue fever is a major disease that kills many people in the developing world every year. During early infection, a patient displays a high temperature without other signs. After this stage, and without proper treatment, serious damage to internal organs can happen, which occasionally leads to death. A rapid technique for the early detection of dengue virus (DENV) could reduce the number of fatalities. This study presents a new technique for the detection, classification and antibody screening of DENV based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We found that the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of a gold electrode coated with graphene oxide reinforced polymer was influenced by virus type and quantity exposed on the surface. Molecular recognition capability established during the GO-polymer composite preparation was used to explain this observation. The linear dependence of Rct versus virus concentrations ranged from 1 to 2 × 103 pfu/mL DENV with a 0.12 pfu/mL detection limit.

Graphical AbstractThe dengue virus biosensor is created by mixing graphene oxide (GO) and polymers while adding dengue virus (DENV) before allowing a self-assembly process to make the sensor highly selective to DENV.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) sensor can classify the virus serotypes accurately and detect DENV range from 1 to 2 × 103 pfu/mL with a 0.12 pfu/mL detection limit.202