Whole-Cell Thermal Sensor for the Detection of P. falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes: Imprinted Polymers as Synthetic Receptors for the Detection of Malaria

Malaria is a major public healthcare concern worldwide, representing a leading cause of death in specific regions. The gold standard for diagnosis is microscopic analysis, but this requires a laboratory setting, trained staff, and infrastructure and is therefore typically slow and dependent on the experience of the technician. This study introduces, for the first time, a biomimetic sensing platform for the direct detection of the disease. The heart of the sensor consists of a synthetic receptor created by surface imprinting Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in a polymeric matrix. This receptor layer is coupled to a low-cost and fast thermal transducer platform, allowing for real time detection of the infection. The artificial receptor is a composite of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and graphene oxide that, in combination with the thermal readout, exhibited a limit of detection below 0.5% parasitemia in erythrocyte samples. This value is relevant for the diagnosis of infection in patients with low parasitemia levels. This study proves that biomimetic sensors could be further explored for the development of point-of-care technologies for the management of the disease.