Rapid, Multiplexed, Testing for Urinary Tract Infections
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance represents a global challenge that requires a paradigm shift in healthcare to resolve. Antibiotics are becoming less effective due to increased resistance associated with their overuse and mis-prescription. There is a demand not only to develop new antimicrobial compounds but to improve diagnosis and prescribe only as required, and specific to the pathogen.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common types of infections and are a significant cause of mortality, especially among the elderly population with 4835 deaths in England and Wales reported in 2012. UTI is the main indication of community antibiotic prescriptions and costs the NHS >£124 million pa. Many patients are in care home settings or have poor mobility and hence the ability to undertake and remote test, and report the results directly to the patient record would represent a significant advance for infection diagnosis and treatment.
This proposal seeks to build on the public understanding, and general acceptance, of lateral flow tests (LFTs) to develop a test for bacterial infection. The LFT readout will consist of multiple bands (of a different colour) to improve diagnostic accuracy, as well as to identify the type of bugs responsible for the infection.
In summary, we propose to:
1. Develop new targeting agents to recognise the bacterial species responsible for UTIs
2. Develop novel gold nanomaterials that provide strong readouts in the presence of the bacteria
3. Validate a multiplexed device - capable of identifying multiple species in a single test
4. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the test.
5. To work with patients, care workers, clinicians and SureScreen Diagnostics to design and implement a UTI LFT detection platform.
6. Undertake Health economic study to determine where/how the devices can integrate into the UTI care pathway.
7. Validate LFTs on patient samples and compare to the current gold standard (laboratory culture and microscopy- and typically takes several days)
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common types of infections and are a significant cause of mortality, especially among the elderly population with 4835 deaths in England and Wales reported in 2012. UTI is the main indication of community antibiotic prescriptions and costs the NHS >£124 million pa. Many patients are in care home settings or have poor mobility and hence the ability to undertake and remote test, and report the results directly to the patient record would represent a significant advance for infection diagnosis and treatment.
This proposal seeks to build on the public understanding, and general acceptance, of lateral flow tests (LFTs) to develop a test for bacterial infection. The LFT readout will consist of multiple bands (of a different colour) to improve diagnostic accuracy, as well as to identify the type of bugs responsible for the infection.
In summary, we propose to:
1. Develop new targeting agents to recognise the bacterial species responsible for UTIs
2. Develop novel gold nanomaterials that provide strong readouts in the presence of the bacteria
3. Validate a multiplexed device - capable of identifying multiple species in a single test
4. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the test.
5. To work with patients, care workers, clinicians and SureScreen Diagnostics to design and implement a UTI LFT detection platform.
6. Undertake Health economic study to determine where/how the devices can integrate into the UTI care pathway.
7. Validate LFTs on patient samples and compare to the current gold standard (laboratory culture and microscopy- and typically takes several days)
Publications
Aery S
(2023)
Ultra-stable liquid crystal droplets coated by sustainable plant-based materials for optical sensing of chemical and biological analytes.
in Journal of materials chemistry. C
Armistead FJ
(2023)
QCM-D Investigations on Cholesterol-DNA Tethering of Liposomes to Microbubbles for Therapy.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Brown C
(2023)
Structural and mechanical properties of folded protein hydrogels with embedded microbubbles
in Biomaterials Science
Farooq A
(2024)
On-chip Raman spectroscopy of live single cells for the staging of oesophageal adenocarcinoma progression.
in Scientific reports
Fox J
(2023)
Gold Nanotapes and Nanopinecones in a Quantitative Lateral Flow Assay for the Cancer Biomarker Carcinoembryonic Antigen.
in ACS applied nano materials
Fox J
(2023)
Spectrophotometric Analysis and Optimization of 2D Gold Nanosheet Formation.
in The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces
Kpeglo D
(2024)
Modelling and breaking down the biophysical barriers to drug delivery in pancreatic cancer.
in Lab on a chip
Kumar V
(2023)
Targeted delivery of oligonucleotides using multivalent protein-carbohydrate interactions.
in Chemical Society reviews
| Description | SureScreen/ Leeds Collaboration |
| Organisation | Surescreen Diagnostics Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Exchange of personnel/ transfer of expertise to Surescreen |
| Collaborator Contribution | Donation of equipment from Surescreen to Leeds Exchange of knowhow |
| Impact | On going |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Bragg Exchange 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Synthesis of Novel Gold Nanoparticle Morphologies for Rapid, Multiplexed, Testing for Urinary Tract Infections. Won Best Early Career Researcher Talk Prize. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |