Scientists from Colorado State University and Griffith University have developed a simple, cost-effective biosensor that can detect heart failure biomarkers from a drop of saliva within 15 minutes. This innovation promises to revolutionize health care accessibility for remote and underserved populations.
Heart failure remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, disproportionately affecting those with limited access to medical facilities. In a groundbreaking effort to address this issue, a team of researchers has developed a novel electrochemical biosensor prototype designed to detect heart failure biomarkers using just a drop of saliva.
Trey Pittman, a graduate student at Colorado State University, will present his team’s innovative research at the American Chemical Society’s Fall 2024 meeting. Their device, which resembles a COVID-19 lateral flow test, promises rapid, point-of-care heart failure screening within 15 minutes.
“Our device would be ideal for people who are at high risk for heart failure but have limited access to a hospital or a centralized lab,” Pittman said in a news release. “Working on this project to address health disparities in rural and low-resource areas really hits home for me because I’m from Mississippi, which has one of the highest mortality rates from heart failure in the United States.”
Heart failure, characterized by a weakened heart muscle that cannot effectively pump blood, is traditionally diagnosed through a blood test that measures B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). This test typically requires biannual hospital visits, which are not accessible to everyone.
The new saliva-based test, however, could be administered by patients themselves more frequently.
One of the standout features of this device, known as an electrochemical capillary-driven immunoassay (eCaDI), is its simplicity and affordability. The eCaDI uses five layers of clear, flexible plastic, with laser-cut channels and blotting paper to draw saliva from the sample site. Electrodes on the device help measure two crucial biomarkers — Galectin-3 and S100A7.
“The devices are very easy to assemble,” added Pittman. “In about 20 to 30 minutes, we can make five of them.”
Each unit costs approximately $3.00, while the reusable power source, a potentiostat, sells for about $20.
Demonstrations have already shown that the eCaDI can accurately measure the levels of Galectin-3 and S100A7 in standardized saliva samples, indicating heart failure.
These initial tests are a promising step towards a reliable, non-invasive and cost-effective method for heart failure screening.