self-PoweRed cONductimeter for digiTalization of rapid mOlecular diagnostics

Despite huge progress in prevention and treatment over the past century, infectious diseases still impose a great health burden.

For this reason, lab-centralised immunoassays and nucleic acid tests that allow for specific pathogen identification with limits of detection reaching few copies per ml of sample are readily available and supported by both national and private health systems in the developed world. However, these tests are neither affordable nor accessible to patients in low- and medium-income countries.

Fortunately, lateral flow antigen-based have proven to be a fast, reliable and affordable tool to detect a wide range of pathogens.

However, such tests suffer from cross-reactivity with related bacterial or viral species and more importantly, they often require 10^5 pathogens per mL to yield a positive result.

It becomes clear that there is a clinical and technological need to develop rapid tests that combines PCR sensitivity – able to detect one copy per mL - with LF affordability.

PRONTO proposes a novel low cost, sustainable and self-powered readout system for nucleic acid detection based on conductimetry.

The key component consists on a paper-based and single use self-powered conductimetric sensor developed during ERC Consolidator Grant SUPERCELL.

The sensing approach is unique and minimalistic, as it breaks the classic paradigm sensor-electronics-battery as the sensor and the power source are merged into one element while making the detection system energetically autonomous.

The simplicity of the approach will enable the deployment of highly sensitive and digital tests for infectious diseases at affordable prices and in a sustainable manner at a global scale.