MULTIPLEXED ELECTROCHEMICAL APTASSENSORS SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING NEGLIGENT DISEASES

• Grant number: 26/15725-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2026
• End date: September 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Campos Janegitz
• Grantee: Jéssica Rocha Camargo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 25/04797-8 - MULTIPLEXED ELECTROCHEMICAL APTASSENSORS SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING NEGLIGENT DISEASES, AP.R

Abstract

There is a class of diseases worldwide known as neglected diseases. These are classified as such due to the limited allocation of resources for researching and developing both medicines and vaccines, as well as diagnostic methods, especially for early detection. Commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, they are responsible for thousands of deaths annually, as most of the affected countries are also the least economically and socially developed, creating a cycle of poverty exacerbated by sick individuals. The arboviral diseases Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika are considered part of this group according to several global health authorities. Transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, these diseases can be asymptomatic, allowing for easier transmission within the population, or they can cause severe symptoms, which either permanently diminish the quality of life for the infected individuals or lead to death. Among the existing diagnostic methods, the options are costly, both in terms of time and financial and material resources, which many patients cannot afford. In the pursuit of more accessible and efficient early diagnostics, electroanalytical techniques make use of aptamers, which are simple chains of nucleic acids synthetically produced to form very specific and well-defined chemical bindings. By attaching these components to metal surfaces, it is possible to develop low-cost sensors with rapid application. This project aims to employ printing techniques to produce highly efficient electrochemical diagnostic devices to meet the needs of countries that have been suffering for years from various arboviral diseases. (AU)