Rapid and Sensitive nano-material based detection of Phenylketonuria for Point-of-Care Detection in urine

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited amino acid metabolic disorder of an essential amino acid, phenylalanine (Phe). Phe gets accumulated in the blood leading to critical alterations in the central nervous system, brain injury, and neurocognitive disorders if untreated. Diagnosis of PKU in the early phase of life is necessary, as continuous long-term dependency on dietary guidance is needed for treatment. The prognosis of the disease is critical to adjust nutritional requirements. Finding a rapid, point-of-care, and non-invasive diagnosis test for PKU is necessary. This study was performed for the successful detection of biomarkers like Phenylpyruvate and incorporated through paper-based assay using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The goal of developing a miniature cost-effective, time-efficient, rapid paper-based assay for point-of-care detection of Phenylketonuria. Phenylpyruvate detection using colorimetry by complex formation of Phenylpyruvate and FeCl3 with AgNP and AuNP-based reduction of chloroauric acid and silver nitrate resulting in a sensitive Limit of Detection (LOD) as 2mg/dL.