Paper and thread as media for the frugal detection of urinary tract infections (UTIs)

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry Vol. 414; no. 2; pp. 847 - 865
• Main Authors: Hasandka, Amrutha, Singh, Ankita Ramchandran, Prabhu, Anusha, Singhal, Hardik Ramesh, Nandagopal, M. S. Giri, Mani, Naresh Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-01-2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptability; Analysis; Analytical Chemistry; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biochemistry; Casings; Cellulose; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colorimetry - methods; Culture Media; Electrochemical Techniques - methods; Food Science; Fungi - isolation & purification; Health care; Housing; Humans; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Laboratory Medicine; Menstrual Hygiene Products; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Public health; Quality of life; Review; Substrates; Urinary tract; Urinary tract diseases; Urinary tract infections; Urinary Tract Infections - diagnosis; Urinary Tract Infections - microbiology; Urinary Tract Infections - urine; Urogenital system; India; Paper; Urinary tract infection; Detection; Microfluidics; Thread
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03671-3

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) make up a significant proportion of the global burden of disease in vulnerable groups and tend to substantially impair the quality of life of those affected, making timely detection of UTIs a priority for public health. However, economic and societal barriers drastically reduce accessibility of traditional lab-based testing methods for critical patient groups in low-resource areas, negatively affecting their overall healthcare outcomes. As a result, cellulose-based materials such as paper and thread have garnered significant interest among researchers as substrates for so-called frugal analytical devices which leverage the material’s portability and adaptability for facile and reproducible diagnoses of UTIs. Although the field may be only in its infancy, strategies aimed at commercial penetration can appreciably increase access to more healthcare options for at-risk people. In this review, we catalogue recent advances in devices that use cellulose-based materials as the primary housing or medium for UTI detection and chart out trends in the field. We also explore different modalities employed for detection, with particular emphasis on their ability to be ported onto discreet casings such as sanitary products.
Graphical abstract