Chikungunya and Dengue are mosquito-borne diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. While the symptoms and transmission of these diseases are similar, they exhibit distinct characteristics. Timely identification is crucial to prevent diagnostic errors, minimize complications, and ensure the provision of optimal care. In this study, we intend to develop a cost-effective printed circuit board (PCB) platform for the detection of dengue and chikungunya viruses. As a part of the initial work, we have developed a PCB-gold electrode of dimension 17.2 x 12.6 mm with a working electrode of 1 mm diameter, using Autodesk Eagle software. This electrode requires only a small quantity of biomolecule (either an immobilized antigen or an immobilized aptamer) and 10 µl of testing sample for testing. The study specifically focuses on the gold binding peptide (GBP) of sequences WAGAKRLVLRRE, WALRRSIRRQSY, and MHGKTQATSGTIQS attached to a suitable antigen, to detect antibodies in the test sample. Alternatively, thiol-functionalized aptamers specific to Chikungunya and the Dengue virus protein can also be immobilized, to detect the corresponding antigen in the test sample. The PCB electrode will be modified either with the GBP of a specific sequence or the thiol-functionalized aptamer for the detection of Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Dengue (DENV) proteins. Surface modifications will be examined through SEM, AFM, XRD, and FTIR methods. The binding affinity of each material on the gold electrode will be analyzed using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM- D). This approach not only enables the detection of CHIKV and DENV infection but also emphasizes the importance of a cost-effective diagnostic tool for mosquito-borne diseases.

Keywords: Printed circuit board electrode, Gold binding peptide, Thiol -Aptamer, CHIKV, and DENV.