Fabrication of nanocoated fibers for self-diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common disease which causes preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes linked with reproductive tract infection. Here, we report development of active fiber-based materials for early self-detection detection of BV. The proposed approach relies on the visual detection and measurement of the enzyme sialidase, which is present in elevated concentrations in vaginal fluid of BV patients. The developed colorimetric biosensor can detect sialidase in small droplets of vaginal fluid. Our experiments show that colorimetric sialidase substrate can be readily and with high yield immobilized on polymeric fibers coated by a nanolayer of a cationic polymer. Thus prepared fibers change color from white to bright blue in the presence of sialidase. The existing tests for BV are performed either in a lab setting or in a physician's office. In the proposed method, nanofiber colorimetric sensors can be incorporated into female panty liners so to enable the patient to monitor her BV status without visiting physician's office. It is expected that the proposed approach will lead to a new generation of fiber-based biosensors incorporated into everyday use household items. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an abnormal vaginal condition caused by changes in the vaginal ecosystem, characterized by the overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella species, Mobiluncus spp., and Mu-coplasma hominis, and decreased numbers of Lactobacillus species [1,2]. BV is the most common vaginal condition in women of childbearing age. In the United States, 29% of women between the ages of 14 and 49 years [3] and as many as 16% of pregnant women have BV. BV is associated with spontaneous abortion, post-gynecolo-gic surgery infection, and pelvic inflammatory disease that can lead to infertility. In pregnant women, the presence of BV is strongly associated with preterm birth and prematurity [4,5], a risk that is mitigated by early diagnosis and treatment with oral clindamycin [6]. Vaginal fluid of both pregnant and nonpregnant women with BV is characterized by elevated levels of sialidase activity [7]. Sialidases (neuraminidases) are a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of terminal sialic acid residues from …