Design and fabrication of 3D filter by additive manufacturing for isolation of Schistosoma mansoni eggs.

• Grant number: 24/06366-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Manufacturing Processes
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Franco Barbosa
• Grantee: Felipe Serra Kondogeorgos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Schistosomiasis infection rates have been reduced in many locations in Brazil and other countries, but at the same time, its geographic area of occurrence has expanded, due to migratory routes and ecotourism. In these situations of low endemicity, classical diagnostic methods show limited sensitivity. On the other hand, more modern methods, such as Helmintex® (HTX), have higher sensitivity rates and entail more complex laboratory analysis, which prevents this method from being used in unhealthy areas, where the disease persists. Based on this scenario, the main objective of this project is the development, manufacture, and validation of a novel device using additive manufacturing technology, or 3D printing, aimed at filtering eggs and removing fecal debris, in order to optimize HTX by producing a reduction in procedure time, it improves the biosafety of the process and the egg recovery rate and, in addition, avoids cross-contamination between samples. This new device will be a depth filter that is composed of a junction of three-dimensional photopolymerizable resin meshes, with a gradient of openings between 480 µm and 180 µm, under a low and intermittent pressure regime. Its effectiveness will be evaluated in the laboratory of a partner research group at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), through the sowing of a known number of eggs in feces, with the final focus being the egg recovery rate, therefore contributing to the effort for the schistosomiasis eradication, as a reference method, for controlling cure and for certifying the interruption of transmission.