{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,5]],"date-time":"2026-11-05T15:55:08Z","timestamp":1793894108643,"version":"4.8.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,24]],"date-time":"2018-12-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1545609600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biosensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Access to community-based point-of-care, low-cost, and sensitive tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics remains an unmet need. Objective: The objective of this study was to combine principles in nanotechnology, TB biology, glycochemistry, and engineering, for the development of a nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensing assay (NCBA) to quickly and inexpensively detect acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in sputum samples. Methods: In NCBA, the isolation of AFB from sputum samples was accomplished through glycan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (GMNP) interacting with AFB and then using a simple magnet to separate the GMNP-AFB complex. Acid-fastness and cording properties of mycobacteria were utilized to provide visually observable red-stained clumps of bacteria that were surrounded by brown nanoparticles under a light microscope on prepared smears. The NCBA technique was compared against sputum smear microscopy (SSM) and Xpert MTB\/RIF in 500 samples from patients that were suspected to have TB. Results: Statistical analysis showed that NCBA had sensitivity and specificity performances in perfect agreement with Xpert MTB\/RIF as gold standard for all 500 samples. SSM had a sensitivity of 40% for the same samples. Conclusion: NCBA technique yielded full agreement in terms of sensitivity and specificity with the Xpert MTB\/RIF in 500 samples. The method is completed in 10\u201320 min through a simple process at an estimated cost of $0.10 per test. Implementation of NCBA in rural communities would help to increase case finding and case notification, and would support programs against drug-resistance. Its use at the first point-of-contact by patients in the healthcare system would facilitate quick treatment in a single clinical encounter, thus supporting the global \u201cEnd TB Strategy\u201d by 2035.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bios9010001","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,24]],"date-time":"2018-12-24T10:37:49Z","timestamp":1545647869000},"page":"1","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":34,"title":["Nanoparticle-Based Biosensing of Tuberculosis, an Affordable and Practical Alternative to Current Methods"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6926-0634","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nirajan","family":"Bhusal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel 45200, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal"},{"name":"Global Alliance for Rapid Diagnostics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sunaina","family":"Shrestha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel 45200, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nisha","family":"Pote","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel 45200, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Evangelyn C.","family":"Alocilja","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Alliance for Rapid Diagnostics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA"},{"name":"Nano-Biosensors Lab, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2018, May 09). 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