| Abstract Scope |
Infectious diseases such as Leishmaniasis pose a significant global health threat, affecting millions of people annually, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. I will present our recent work on developing a multiplexing FAST chip for instrument-free detection of Leishmania panamensis. The chip is fabricated using 3D printing and sacrificial molding of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with polydimethylsiloxane. Its design is optimized through finite element analysis to improve fluid dynamics and overall performance. The device incorporates a highly sensitive and specific one-pot CRISPR-based assay, achieving a detection limit as low as 1,000 copies/mL. Its multichannel configuration enables duplex detection, allowing simultaneous identification of both L. braziliensis and L. panamensis in separate channels. Stability tests show that lyophilized reagents maintain functionality for up to 15 days when stored at 4 °C, highlighting the chip’s potential for use in low-resource settings. A newer version of the device has also been developed, enabling triplex detection capabilities. |