Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Distance-based paper device using polydiacetylene liposome as a chromogenic substance for rapid and in-field analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work presents an affordable distance-based microfluidic paper-based device (μPAD), using polydiacetylene (PDA) liposome as a chromogenic substance with a smartphone-based photo editor, for rapid and in-field analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) (e.g., didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), benzyldimethyltetradecyl ammonium chloride (BAC), and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)). In-field analysis of these compounds is important to ensure their antimicrobial activity and user safety since they are widely utilized as disinfectants in households and hospitals. The μPAD featured a thermometer-like shape consisting of a sample reservoir and a microchannel as the detection zone, which was pre-deposited with PDA liposome. The color change from blue to red appeared in the presence of QACs and the color bar lengths were proportional to the QAC concentrations. Reactions of QACs with the PDA required a specific pH range (from pH 4.0 to 10.0) and a readout time of 7 min. Analytical performance characteristics of the device were tested with DDAC, BAC, and CPC showing acceptable specificity, accuracy (96.1–109.4%), and precision (%RSDs ≤ 9.3%). Limits of detection and quantitation were in the ranges of 20 to 80 and 70 to 250 μM, respectively. Feasibility of the newly developed device was demonstrated for in-field analysis of QACs in fumigation solution providing comparable results with those obtained from a colorimetric assay (P > 0.05). The proposed device shows potentials for further applications of other analytes since it offers speed, simplicity, and affordability for in-field analysis, especially in remote areas where expertise, resources, and infrastructures are limited.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Ioannou CJ, Hanlon GW, Denyer SP. Action of disinfectant quaternary ammonium compounds against Staphylococcus aureus action of disinfectant quaternary ammonium compounds against Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007;51:296–306.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Apisarnthanarak A, Wongcharoen S, Mundy LM. Fumigation with a combined quaternary compound and 2 alcohols and fungal air bioburden. Clin Infect Dis. 2013;56:1060–2.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Quinn MM, Henneberger PK, Braun B, Delclos GL, et al. Cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces in health care: toward an integrated framework for infection and occupational illness prevention. Am J Infect Control. 2015;43:424–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Purohit A, Kopferschmitt-Kubler MC, Moreau C, Popin E, et al. Quaternary ammonium compounds and occupational asthma. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000;73:423–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gonzalez M, Jégu J, Kopferschmitt MC, Donnay C, et al. Asthma among workers in healthcare settings: role of disinfection with quaternary ammonium compounds. Clin Exp Allergy. 2014;44:393–406.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bragg R, Jansen A, Coetzee M, van der Westhuizen W, et al. Bacterial resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) disinfectants. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2014;801:1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bjorland J, Steinum T, Sunde M, Waage S, et al. Novel plasmid-borne gene qacJ mediates resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds in equine Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans, and Staphylococcus intermedius. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003;47:3046–52.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Price R, Wan P. Determination of quaternary ammonium compounds by potentiometric titration with an ionic surfactant electrode: single-laboratory validation. J AOAC Int. 2010;93:1542–52.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mousavi ZE, Butler F, Danaher M. Validation of a simple spectrophotometric method for the measurement of quaternary ammonium compound residue concentrations in food production facility. Food Anal Methods. 2013;6:1265–70.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wang L. Ion chromatography studies of quaternary ammonium halide solutions and the determination of pharmaceuticals. J Chromatogr Sci. 2002;40:326–30.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang C, Cui F, Zeng GM, Jiang M, et al. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs): a review on occurrence, fate and toxicity in the environment. Sci Total Environ. 2015;518–519:352–62.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Martinez AW, Phillips ST, Butte MJ, Whitesides GM. Patterned paper as a platform for inexpensive, low volume, portable bioassays. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2013;46:1318–20.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rahbar M, Paull B, Macka M. Instrument-free argentometric determination of chloride via trapezoidal distance-based microfluidic paper devices. Anal Chim Acta. 2019;1063:1–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Martinez AW, Phillips ST, Whitesides GM, Carrilho E. Diagnostics for the developing world: microfuidic paper-based analytical devices. Anal Chem. 2010;82:3–10.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Suntornsuk W, Suntornsuk L. Recent applications of paper-based point-of-care devices for biomarker detection. Electrophoresis. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/elps.201900258.

  16. Lim WY, Goh BT, Khor SM. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices for potential use in quantitative and direct detection of disease biomarkers in clinical analysis. J Chromatogr B. 2017;1060:424–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Xia Y, Si J, Li Z. Fabrication techniques for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices and their applications for biological testing: a review. Biosens Bioelectron. 2016;77:774–89.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sharma N, Barstis T, Giri B. Advances in paper-analytical methods for pharmaceutical analysis. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2018;111:46–56.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu W, Guo Y, Li H, Zhao M, et al. A paper-based chemiluminescence device for the determination of ofloxacin. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2015;137:1298–303.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Craig D, Mazilu M, Dholakia K. Quantitative detection of pharmaceuticals using a combination of paper microfluidics and wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy. PLoS One. 2015;10:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Koesdjojo MT, Wu Y, Boonloed A, Dunfield EM, et al. Low-cost, high-speed identification of counterfeit antimalarial drugs on paper. Talanta. 2014;130:122–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Weaver AA, Halweg S, Joyce M, Lieberman M, et al. Incorporating yeast biosensors into paper-based analytical tools for pharmaceutical analysis. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2016;407:615–9.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Cate DM, Dungchai W, Cunningham JC, Volckens J, et al. Simple, distance-based measurement for paper analytical devices. Lab Chip. 2013;13:2397–404.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Rahbar M, Nesterenko PN, Paull B, Macka M. High-throughput deposition of chemical reagents via pen-plotting technique for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices. Anal Chim Acta. 2019;1047:115–23.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Tian H, He J. Cellulose as a scaffold for self-assembly: from basic research to real applications. Langmuir. 2016;32:12269–82.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rahbar M, Nesterenko PN, Paull B, Macka M. Geometrical alignment of multiple fabrication steps for rapid prototyping of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices. Anal Chem. 2017;89:11918–23.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cate DM, Noblitt SD, Volckens J, Henry CS. Multiplexed paper analytical device for quantification of metals using distance-based detection. Lab Chip. 2015;15:2808–18.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Bandara GC, Heist CA, Remcho VT. Chromatographic separation and visual detection on wicking microfluidic devices: quantitation of Cu2+ in surface, ground, and drinking water. Anal Chem. 2018;90:2594–600.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Gerold CT, Bakker E, Henry CS. Selective distance-based K+ quantification on paper-based microfluidics. Anal Chem. 2018;90:4894–900.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Shibata H, Hiruta Y, Citterio D. Fully inkjet-printed distance-based paper microfluidic devices for colorimetric calcium determination using ion-selective optodes. Analyst. 2019;144:1178–86.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Hongwarittorrn I, Chaichanawongsaroj N, Laiwattanapaisal W. Semi-quantitative visual detection of loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-generated DNA by distance-based measurement on a paper device. Talanta. 2017;175:135–42.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sameenoi Y, Nongkai PN, Nouanthavong S, Henry CS, et al. One-step polymer screen-printing for microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) fabrication. Analyst. 2014;139:6580–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Yamada K, Henares TG, Suzuki K, Citterio D. Distance-based tear lactoferrin assay on microfluidic paper device using interfacial interactions on surface-modified cellulose. Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015;7:24864–75.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Jesorka A, Orwar O. Liposomes: technologies and analytical applications. Annu Rev Anal Chem. 2008;1:801–32.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Edwards KA. Analytical utility of liposome: from past to present. In: Edwards KA, editor. Liposomes in analytical methodologies. Singapore: Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd; 2016. p. 1–53.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Liu Q, Boyd BJ. Liposomes in biosensors. Analyst. 2013;138:391–409.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Charoenthai N, Pattanatornchai T, Wacharasindhu S, Sukwattanasinitt M, et al. Roles of head group architecture and side chain length on colorimetric response of polydiacetylene vesicles to temperature, ethanol and pH. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2011;360:565–73.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Jiang L, Luo J, Dong W, Wang C, et al. Development and evaluation of a polydiacetylene based biosensor for the detection of H5 influenza virus. J Virol Methods. 2015;219:38–45.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Oliveira T, Soares N, Coimbra JSDR, Andrade NJ, et al. Stability and sensitivity of polydiacetylene vesicles to detect Salmonella. Sensors Actuators B Chem. 2015;221:653–8.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Wu W, Zhang J, Zheng M, Zhong Y, et al. An aptamer-based biosensor for colorimetric detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. PLoS One. 2012;7:e48999.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Uk S, Beom S, Jang S, Choi J, et al. Naked-eye detection of pandemic influenza a (pH1N1) virus by polydiacetylene (PDA)-based paper sensor as a point-of-care diagnostic platform. Sensors Actuators B Chem. 2019;291:257–65.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Su YL, Li JR, Jiang L. Effect of amphiphilic molecules upon chromatic transitions of polydiacetylene vesicles in aqueous solutions. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2004;39:113–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Kim C, Lee K. Polydiacetylene (PDA) liposome-based immunosensor for the detection of exosomes. Biomacromolecules. 2019;20:3392–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Seo S, Shanker A, Kwon M, Kim J. Functional polydiacetylene liposomes as self-signaling and signal amplifying bio- and chemical sensor and sensor array. In: Edwards KA, editor. Liposomes in analytical methodologies. Singapore: Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd; 2016. p. 167–94.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Yoon B, Shin H, Yarimaga O, Ham DY, et al. An inkjet-printable microemulsion system for colorimetric polydiacetylene supramolecules on paper substrates. J Mater Chem. 2012;22:8680–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Kang DH, Kim K, Son Y, Chang PS, et al. Design of a simple paper-based colorimetric biosensor using polydiacetylene liposomes for neomycin detection. Analyst. 2018;143:4623–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Nuchtavorn N, Macka M. A novel highly flexible, simple, rapid and low-cost fabrication tool for paper-based microfluidic devices (μPADs) using technical drawing pens and in-house formulated aqueous inks. Anal Chim Acta. 2016;919:70–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Wu G, Zaman MH. Low-cost tools for diagnosing and monitoring HIV infection in low-resource settings. Bull World Health Organ. 2012;90:914–20.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

BC would like to thank Well to do D Company Limited for providing disinfectant solutions and in-field experiences.

Funding

This work received financial supports from the Thailand Research Fund through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program, the Higher Education Commission, and Mahidol University (Grant No. PHD/0177/2558) to Boonta Chutvirasakul and Prof. Leena Suntornsuk. This work was also supported by the Czech Science Foundation under Project 19-02108S.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leena Suntornsuk.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(PDF 648 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chutvirasakul, B., Nuchtavorn, N., Macka, M. et al. Distance-based paper device using polydiacetylene liposome as a chromogenic substance for rapid and in-field analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 3221–3230 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02583-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02583-y

Keywords

Navigation