Paper-Based Analytical Devices for Accurate Assessment of Transferrin Saturation in Diagnosed Clinical Samples from Ischemic Stroke Patients

For the first time, a paper-based analytical device (PAD) was developed for the assessment of transferrin saturation (TSAT), which is defined as the ratio between iron bound to transferrin (Tf) and the total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) of Tf. Both parameters were simultaneously measured on the same PAD using ferrozine as a chromophore and a smartphone as the color reader. To this end, Tf was first isolated from serum using anti-Tf immunomagnetic beads to ensure that only the Tf-bound iron was measured, improving the selectivity and accuracy of TSAT assessment. To demonstrate the practical utility of the device, it was validated by analyzing a certified reference material, showing excellent accuracy (E < 4%) and good precision (RSD ≤ 6%). Finally, 18 diagnosed serum samples from ischemic stroke patients were analyzed by this approach, and the results were compared with those obtained by urea-PAGE, showing not only an excellent correlation (r = 0.93, p < 0.05) but that the PAD approach has become statistically identical to the free-interference urea-PAGE. In comparison with the slow, tedious, and non-miniaturized-PAGE, this PAD approach exhibited attractive characteristics such as low cost, disposability, and connectivity, showing great potential for future point-of-care testing, especially in developing countries and/or remote areas, where access to medical or clinical facilities is limited

Extraction-free colorimetric determination of thymol and carvacrol isomers in essential oils by pH-dependent formation of gold nanoparticles

An extraction-free method is described for the colorimetric determination of thymol (TY) and carvacrol (CA) isomers in essential oils by making use of the pH-dependent formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In solutions of pH 12, TY and CA form gold nanoparticles, while at pH ≤ 11 only CA does so. By taking advantage of this finding, two different approaches based on colorimetric assay (absorption at 550 nm) were developed: one at pH 12 for the determination of total CA and TY, and other at pH 9 and pH 12 for differential quantification of TY and CA. The former agrees with the well-established Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the latter provides a simple way for calculation of TY/CA ratio. The linear ranges are from 100 to 1000 μM at pH 9, and from 50 to 200 μM at pH 12. The limits of detection are 0.09 μM at pH 9, and 0.02 μM at pH 12. These features make this method simple, fast and reliable. Conceivably, it can be used to assess the quality of essential oils and may become a valuable alternative to more sophisticated, laborious and high time-consuming methods.Fil: Tonello, Natalia Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad de Alcalá; EspañaFil: D'eramo, Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Marioli, Juan Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Crevillen, Agustín G.. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia; EspañaFil: Escarpa, Alberto. Universidad de Alcalá; Españ