Screen Printed Graphene Oxide Textile Biosensor for Applications in Inexpensive and Wearable Point-of-Exposure Detection of Influenza for At-Risk Populations

A textile screen-printed biosensor was developed using silver conductive electrodes and graphene oxide transduction film built upon both nanoporous polyamide and consumer utility textiles for the detection of environmental exposure to influenza A virus. An affinity assay was constructed upon the graphene oxide layer to introduce influenza protein-specific antibodies to the sensor surface. Validation of fabrication reproducibility and stability, as well as affinity assay stability, was conducted using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The textile sensor was utilized for the detection of influenza A in biofluid analog buffer. Its linear dynamic range was from 10 ng/mL to 10 μg/mL with a limit of detection of 10 ng/mL, spanning both pre- and post-symptomatic ranges. The sensor can be integrated into common textiles and worn by at-risk populations to detect exposure to the virus before symptoms manifest. If integrated with Internet-of-Things reporting platforms, this sensor could have the ability to predict potential influenza outbreaks before broad symptoms manifest, reducing the physical and economic burden of the disease.