The severity and cost of wound infections strongly demands for simple and fast methods for wound infection determination. Point-of-care testing devices play a crucial role in order to achieve a fast diagnosis and early treatment. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme, detected in fluids of infected wounds has been postulated as a suitable biomarker for wound diagnostics. Here we present a new system for MPO detection, based on enzyme-catalysed oxidative synthesis of a dye that can be incorporated into paper-based point of care devices. Visual MPO detection has been achieved through the use of phenylenediamine, a common colourless hair dye precursor. MPO oxidation of these compounds yielded bright coloured products distinguishable from the colour of the wound environment. Immobilisation of the MPO substrates on paper strips was achieved through in situ interaction of the oxidised coloured product with branched polyethyleneimine. The colour reaction of the immobilized substrates, detectable by naked eye, responds to the MPO levels present in infected wound fluids revealing an easy system for incorporation of MPO detection in paper based diagnostic devices.

Peer Reviewed