Resumen de Nanophotonic point-of-care biosensors for innovative clinical diagnosis of respiratory diseases
The conventional methods for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases rely mainly on the clinical evidence by imaging. Complementing such analysis with a molecular evaluation can provide a more suitable and exhaustive diagnosis. However, all these technologies imply long times-to-result and sophisticated techniques and laboratories.
This Doctoral Thesis has as main objective to offer novel evanescent wave-based biosensors as a valuable alternative solution for the clinical diagnosis of several respiratory diseases. We have implemented a surface plasmon resonance biosensor (SPR) and a bimodal waveguide (BiMW) interferometric biosensor, which both offer direct, sensitive, and rapid analysis of specific biomarkers using a reduce sample volume. Their potential for integration into point-of-care (POC) analytical platforms positions them as excellent technologies for a more effective disease diagnosis. Along the Thesis, several biosensor methodologies have been designed and implemented allowing the direct detection of lung-related biomarkers in biological fluids. Bioreceptor immobilisation, antifouling properties of the bioreceptor layer and biomarkers detection have been optimised and evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. In this Thesis, we have developed: (i) a rapid and quantitative serological assay for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies; (ii) an amplification-free genetic assay for Pneumocystis pneumonia identification in respiratory specimens; and (iii) a novel approach to the early detection of lung cancer based on a biomarker panel combining protein and epigenetic analytes present in human plasma.
The work in this thesis has opened the door to innovative analytical approaches for the diagnosis of lung-related disorders, overcoming some of the limitations of the conventional analytical techniques and exhibiting an enormous potential for their implementation in POC devices applicable in the real clinical practice.
