Evaluation of a Newly Established Rapid and Selective Graphene-based Kit for Diagnosis of Hydatidosis by Using Nano ELISA and Nano-immunochromatography

1. Introduction
Hydatid disease, known as cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a significant zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution, caused by the larval stage of the canine tapeworm (family Taeniidae; genus Echinococcus). Endemicity of hydatid disease has been clearly observed in western China, Siberia, South America, Australia, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Eastern Mediterranean region, and Eastern and Northern Africa [1].
The diagnosis of hydatid disease is challenging; however, efficient serological tests facilitate early intervention, post-treatment monitoring, and enhanced chemotherapy efficacy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is one of the well-known diagnostic methods used to diagnose hydatid disease in humans and domestic animals. At present, the diagnosis of hydatidosis relies on a combination of imaging techniques (ultrasound, x-ray, and computed tomography) and immunodiagnostic methods [2]. Serological tests continue to exhibit insufficient diagnostic specificity, particularly in endemic regions. Antigen purification and evaluation are necessary to enhance the sensitivity of these techniques for the detection and confirmation of the disease in its initial stages. The latex agglutination test is an effective and relevant diagnostic tool for hydatid disease, particularly when supplemented by confirmatory ELISA [3]. Camel hydatid fluid, crude protoscolices, and antigens from sheep hydatid cysts may be beneficial for the accurate diagnosis of hydatidosis in humans [4]. 
When compared to the ELISA format, immunochromatographic testing (ICT) has shown good performance in the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis [5]. Unlike traditional ELISA procedures, which call for specialized personnel and equipment that can be hard to locate in rural areas, ICT is a quick, easy, and dependable approach.
Nanomaterials based on graphene have become the focus of attention among scientists in nanotechnology research [6], because of the exceptional charge transport mobility and the thermal, optical, and mechanical properties of this compound. In terms of the diagnosis of parasitic infections, graphene nanomaterials have been used to increase the sensitivity and specificity of some diagnostic tools [7].
The main objective of this proposal is to evaluate a novel test, which is rapid and selective for the diagnosis of hydatidosis by nano-sandwich ELISA and nano-immunochromatography, compared with the traditional sandwich ELISA technique.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Preparation and characterization of graphene oxide nanoparticles
The graphene oxide nanoparticles were purchased from NanoTech Co. (Gate 3, Dreamland, 6th October, Cairo, Egypt). The size and morphology of graphene oxide were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at NanoTech Egypt Co. (FEI Quanta 200 electron microscope). Graphene oxide nanoparticles were also characterized by Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (Jasco FTIR 6100, Japan). 
2.2. Animals
Two New Zealand White male rabbits, weighing 1.5 kg and aged 2 months, were acquired from the Rabbit Research Unit (RRU) at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. Prior to the commencement of the experiments, they were assessed and subsequently used in the antibody production process.
2.3. Parasites
Hydatid cysts were collected from the livers and lungs of sheep and camels at an abattoir in Cairo Governorate and were transferred to the parasitology laboratory of the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI) in Hank's buffer solution to maintain normal ion concentrations under physiological tissue conditions.
2.4. Sera samples
To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the above-mentioned techniques, 50 blood samples from hydatid-infected patients were used; all of them were clinically asymptomatic. Additionally, serum samples from patients infected with other parasitic diseases were used: 20 were infected with Schistosoma mansoni, 20 with Fasciola hepatica, and 10 with Ancylostoma duodenale. Fifty blood samples were utilized as negative controls sourced from healthy individuals. Serum samples were separated, aliquoted, and stored at -20 °C until use.
2.5. Preparation of parasite antigen
Hydatid cyst fluids (HCF) were aseptically collected from hydatid cysts. HCF samples were subjected to centrifugation at 1,000 × g for 30 minutes to eliminate protoscolices and larger debris. The protein content of the samples was determined.

2.6. Protein extraction at high salt concentration
HCF was homogenized in PBS buffer (pH 7.0) using an Ultrasonic Homogenizer 4710 (Cole-Palmer Instrument, III), with 30-second pauses incorporated during the process. The HCF, after sonication, was subjected to centrifugation at 48,000 × g for 30 minutes at 4 °C. The resulting pellet was then resuspended in an equal volume of 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH=8). Supernatants were analyzed using 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Samples with comparable composition were pooled and concentrated fourfold using ultrafiltration with a PM10 membrane (Amicon Inc., MA). The concentrated material was subjected to gel filtration chromatography [8].
2.7. Fabrication and purification of antibodies
Antibodies were produced using rabbits through intramuscular injection of 1 mg of purified hydatid antigen suspended in Freund’s complete adjuvant (Sigma) (1:1), four times, one week apart. The reactivity and sensitivity of anti-hydatid IgG polyclonal antibodies were assessed using indirect ELISA. The anti- hydatid antibody was labelled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) using the periodates method; the labeled antibody was kept at -20 °C in small aliquots until use.
2.8. Conjugation of anti-hydatid polyclonal antibodies with graphene nanoparticles
Ten mL of prepared graphene oxide nanoparticle solution was supplemented dropwise into the antibody (Ab) solution (20 mL, 1 mg/mL) and stirred for 2 h. Then, the solution was centrifuged to remove the excess free Ab (10,000 rpm for 20 min), and the pellet was redispersed in 5 mL of Milli-Q water. One mL of graphene oxide nanoparticle-conjugated antibodies was activated by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) (25 μL), and stored at room temperature for 15 min. Then, the solution was centrifuged at 7,000 rpm for 15 min to remove excess EDC and NHS. The pellet was resuspended in chilled phosphate buffer (PB), shaken at 4 °C overnight. Finally, the solution was centrifuged (7,000 rpm, 15 min, 4 °C), and the final pellet was resuspended in sterile PB buffer.
2.9. Detection of hydatidosis in human sera by sandwich ELISA
The microtiter plates (Dynatec) were coated with 100 μl/well of 20 μg/mL anti-purified hydatid Ab. The plates were washed with buffer (0.1 M PBS/Tween, pH 7.4) three times. The free sites of the wells were blocked with 100 μL/well of 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and incubated at 37 °C for 1 hour. Then, the plates were washed five times with the washing buffer. One hundred μL of serum sample (hydatid, other parasites, and control samples) was added, then incubated for 1 hour at 37 °C. The plates were washed three times with the washing buffer. One hundred microliters per well of 1:20 peroxidase-conjugated Ab was added and incubated for 1 hour at 37 °C. Then, the plates were washed with the washing buffer. One hundred microliters of substrate solution, comprising one tablet of o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (Sigma) dissolved in 25 mL of 0.05 M phosphate-citrate buffer (pH 5), containing hydrogen peroxide (Sigma), was added to each well, and the plates were incubated in the dark at room temperature for 30 minutes. Fifty microliters of 8 N H2SO4 were applied to each well to terminate the enzyme-substrate reaction. Absorbance was quantified at 492 nm using an ELISA reader (Bio-Rad® microplate reader, Richmond, California, USA).
2.10. Detection of hydatidosis in human sera by nano-sandwich ELISA graphene-loaded anti-hydatid ELISA
The plates were treated with 100 µL/well of graphene nanoparticle-loaded anti-hydatid antibodies (10 ng/mL in carbonate buffer, pH 9.6) and incubated at room temperature overnight. The plates underwent three washes with 0.1 M PBS/Tween (pH 7.4). The remaining sites were blocked using 100 µL/well of 2.5% fetal calf serum (FCS) in PBS/Tween and incubated at 37 °C for 2 hours. The plates were washed three times with PBS/Tween. Duplicate wells received 100 µL of serum samples and were incubated at 37 °C for 2 hours. Following three washes, 100 µL/well of 1:160 peroxidase-conjugated polyclonal antibodies were introduced and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature.
2.11. Detection of hydatidosis in human sera by nano-immunochromatography
On a plastic baking plate (300×80 mm), a conjugate pad was attached to the bottom of the membrane with 1–2 mm overlap on the membrane, and the sample pad was attached to the bottom of the conjugate pad in a similar manner. The absorbent pad was attached to the top of the membrane with 1–2 mm overlap on the membrane as well. The prepared master card was cut into 3.8 mm-wide strips using a CM4000 Cutter (Bio-Dot, CA, USA). The strips were then enclosed in plastic box and sealed in aluminum foil bags containing desiccant gel, then stored under dry conditions at room temperature until use. Eighty to one hundred microliters of serum samples were dripped into the sample holder of the test strip cell at the sample pad side and allowed the liquid to migrate for 5 min. The specific nano-graphene-labeled antibody was trapped by immobilization on the membrane, forming red test lines, and was further trapped by the goat anti-human IgG antibodies forming the control line, while the whole complex migrated along the membrane. After 3–10 min, the test results evaluated visually, or test lines were scanned with a Bio-Dot TSR3000 Membrane Strip Reader (Bio-Dot, CA, USA).
2.12. Statistical analysis
The data are expressed in terms of the Mean±SD. The average values for each group were determined by analyzing the average values of individual patients. The group means were evaluated using analysis of variance. A one-way ANOVA test was performed, revealing statistically significant difference with P>0.05. Sensitivity can be expressed as follows: the number of true positive cases divided by the sum of true positive cases and false negative cases. Specificity is defined as follows: the number of true negative cases divided by the sum of true negative cases and false positive cases. The positive predictive value (PPV) is defined as the ratio of the number of true positive cases to the sum of true positive cases and false positive cases. The negative predictive value (NPV) is defined as: the number of true negative cases divided by the sum of true negative cases and false negative cases.

3. Results
3.1. Characterization of graphene oxide nanoparticles
The morphology analysis of graphene oxide nanoparticles by TEM showed that the majority of particles were spherical and had smooth surfaces with homogeneous size distribution. The diameters obtained by SEM ranged from 40 to 60 nm. The FTIR spectra of graphene oxide nanoparticles showed ten characteristic absorption peaks at 786, 1268, 1390, 1540, 1650, 1780, 2265, 2876, 3089, and 3760 cm−1 (Figure 1).
3.2. Purification of hydatid antigen by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange chromatography
The eluted antigen, purified by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange chromatography, shows an OD 280 profile represented by two peaks at fractions No. 25 and 30, with a maximum OD value of 2.5 at fraction No. 30 (Figure 2).
3.3. Reactivity of hydatid antigens by indirect ELISA
The antigenicity of hydatid antigens was tested by the indirect ELISA technique. Serum samples of patients infected with hydatid disease gave a positive reaction against the purified hydatid antigen, and no cross-reactions were recorded with sera of patients infected with any other parasites, e.g. Schistosoma, Fasciola, and Ancylostoma. The strong reaction was detected against the purified hydatid antigen, with a mean optical density (MOD) reading of 1.11±0.098 (Table 1).

3.4. Reactivity and specificity of polyclonal antibodies against purified hydatid antigens
The reactivity of hydatid polyclonal antibodies was tested by the indirect ELISA technique. Serum samples from humans infected with hydatid disease gave positive reactions against the purified hydatid antigen, and no cross-reactions were recorded with sera of patients infected with any other parasites, e.g. Schistosoma, Fasciola, and Ancylostoma. The strong reaction was detected against the purified hydatid antigen, with a MOD reading of 1.95±0.06 (Table 2).

3.5. Measurement of hydatid antigen by sandwich ELISA
The level of hydatid antigen was measured by sandwich ELISA as the MOD of each group with standard deviation (±SD) at 492 nm. Sandwich ELISA was performed using optimal conditions reached after standardization. The plate was coated with 20 µg/mL of anti-hydatid IgG antibodies in 0.06 M carbonate buffer (pH 9.6). The concentration of peroxidase-conjugated anti-hydatid IgG antibodies in 2.5% FCS/PBS/Tween was 1:200.
The OD value of the hydatid-infected group (1.3±0.25) was significantly higher than both the healthy control group (0.332±0.18) and the other parasite groups (0.36±0.123). Eleven out of 50 hydatid patients showed false-negative results, and the sensitivity of the assay was 78%. All 50 negative control sera were below the cut-off value, while seven out of 50 of the parasite-loaded groups were at the borderline of the cut-off value, giving 93.0% specificity. The false-positive cases in other parasite-infected patients were three, two, and two belonging to the subgroups infected with Schistosoma, Fasciola, and Ancylostoma, respectively (Table 3).
3.6. Measurement of hydatid antigen by nano-sandwich ELISA (Nano-ELISA)
Nano-sandwich ELISA was performed using optimal conditions reached after standardization. The plate was coated with 20 µg/mL of anti-hydatid IgG antibodies in 0.06 M carbonate buffer (pH 9.6). The concentration of peroxidase-conjugated anti-hydatid IgG antibodies in 2.5% FCS/PBS/Tween was 1:160. The OD values of the hydatid-infected group (1.73±0.46) were significantly higher than the corresponding values in both the healthy control group (0.309±0.145) and the other parasite-infected groups (0.336±0.25). Eight out of 50 hydatid patients showed false-negative results, and the sensitivity of the assay was 84%. All 50 negative control sera were below the cut-off value, while seven out of 50 other parasite-infected sera groups were at the borderline of the cut-off value, giving 93.0% specificity (Table 4). The false-positive cases in other parasite-infected patients were three, two, and two, belonging to the subgroups infected with Schistosoma, Fasciola, and Ancylostoma, respectively (Table 4).
3.7. Measurement of hydatid antigens by nano immunochromatography (Nano-ICT)
Thirty-six out of 50 hydatid-infected patients displayed positive results, with an assay sensitivity of 72%. Forty-six out of 50 negative control sera showed negative results, while the remaining four showed false-positive results. Sixteen out of 50 of the parasite-loaded group were at the borderline of the cut-off value, giving 80% specificity. Seven cases were associated with the Schistosoma group, five false-positive cases were linked to patients infected with Fasciola, and four-false positive cases were attributed to the Ancylostoma-infected group (Table 5, Figure 3). 
4. Discussion
Echinococcosis is a disease caused by cestode tapeworm of the genus Echinococcus, which is distributed worldwide. Larval echinoccocosis has been reported in the Eastern Mediterranean countries. The initial diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus is performed using serological and immunological assays in humans and animals, as well as for post-surgical and/or medical follow-up, but with different sensitivities and specificities, so immunodiagnosis remains a major problem [9].
Previously, numerous studies attempted to explore antigen detection tests for the diagnosis of CE [10]. Parija et al. (1997) [11] documented the identification of hydatid antigen in the serum of 40 patients with CE through countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP), achieving a diagnostic sensitivity of 45%. In a similar study, Sunita et al. [12] reported a sensitivity of 40% when utilizing rabbit hyperimmune serum in a sandwich ELISA.
In this study, the sensitivity for detection of hydatid antigen in sera was 78% using the standard sandwich ELISA technique, while with the application of nano-sandwich ELISA, the sensitivity reached 84%. Khanbabaie et al. [13] indicated that the diagnostic sensitivity of lateral flow antigen detection (LFD) was 77.14%, surpassing findings from several other studies [14-17]. 
Ravinder et al. [18] showed a lower sensitivity or antigen detection in serum samples (73%) using the co-agglutination test (Co-A). Using the sandwich ELISA technique, diagnostic sensitivities of 25.7%, 52.5%, and 80% have been reported [14, 15]. Khanbabaie, et al. [13]showed that diagnostic specificity using antigen detection by the sandwich ELISA test was 82.35%. Swarna and Parija [10] exhibited a comparable specificity of 83% using Dot-ELISA, whereas Bauomi et al. [14] reported a reduced specificity of 75% with ELISA.
In humans, the sensitivity of ELISA in detecting anti-protective antigen (anti-PA IgG) and circulating protoscoleces antigen (CPA) was 62.5% and 52.5%, respectively, while the specificity of the assay was 66.7% and 75%, respectively [3, 14]. In the current study, the ICT technique detected 36 patients with lung cysts or liver cysts from a total of 50 patients, with a sensitivity of 72%, which is higher than that stated in other studies [12-14]. In the present study, an effort was made to develop an antigen detection rapid test in the format of the ICT assay for CE. 
The current investigation demonstrated a diagnostic specificity of 93%, 93%, and 80% utilizing sandwich ELISA, nano-sandwich ELISA, and ICT techniques, respectively. A comparable specificity (83%) was documented by Swarna and Parija [10] utilizing Dot-ELISA. Bauomi et al. [14] demonstrated a specificity of 75% when employing the ELISA technique. 
Other studies reported assays with higher specificity (>90%) [10-12]; however, the sensitivities of diagnostic assays reliant on ELISA and CIEP were obviously much lower (25.7%–45%) [11, 12]. 
Notably, an ELISA constructed by Chaya and Parija [15], employing rabbit antibody to a 24-kDa human hydatid urinary antigen, demonstrated a specificity of 92% alongside a sensitivity of 80%. Devi and Parija [19] demonstrated a specificity of 98% using LAT and Co-A, while another study [18] reported a specificity of 93.87% with the ELISA technique. 
Other investigations that demonstrated high specificity utilized antigens derived from human sources to produce the antibodies [10, 18], as this could be a limitation for the sustainable production of such tests. Some studies showed that circulating antigen detection tests could be used as a useful tool for post-treatment follow-up and monitoring of cyst activity [16]. In the present study, cross-reactions were observed in four out of 50 healthy individuals and 16 out of 50 patients with other parasitic infections using the ICT technique. The cross-reactivity with serum of healthy individuals may be due to asymptomatic diseases other than CE, since Egypt is endemic for echinococcosis, and all sera were found to be seronegative by the sandwich ELISA technique, Sunita et al. (2011) [12] reported cross- reactions with ascariasis and cysticercosis using the sandwich ELISA technique, similar to what was observed in the present study. 
Furthermore, cross-reactions have been documented with sera from patients suffering from schistosomiasis, fascioliasis, visceral leishmaniasis, neurocysticercosis, amebic liver abscess, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, and partial seizures [12-15]. Nanotechnology may improve sensitivity, selectivity, speed, cost, and convenience of diagnostic tests [17].
Khanbabaie et al. [13] demonstrated that the LFD assay exhibited strong diagnostic accuracy in differentiating between positive and negative samples. Two rapid lateral flow antibody detection assays for the diagnosis of CE are currently available [20]. Based on the existing literature, this report represents the first instance of an antigen detection test utilizing a rapid lateral flow assay format. The test is straightforward, rapid, and effective; it does not necessitate costly laboratory equipment and can be conducted in the field by individuals without laboratory training, making it advantageous for areas with limited resources [21]. Graphene oxide (GO) is of great interest due to its low cost, easy access, and ability to be readily converted to graphene. Scalability is also a much-desired feature [22]. 
ICT is a card-based test that gives only qualitative results [23]. Nanodiagnostic tests utilize nanotechnology in clinical diagnosis to enhance sensitivity, specificity, and early detection within reduced timeframes. The extensive surface area of nanomaterials facilitates the binding of numerous target-specific molecules, enabling ultrasensitive detection [24]. This field has produced numerous unique and effective nanodiagnostics for infectious diseases. These nanotechnology-based systems have the potential to create portable, durable, and cost-effective point-of-care testing platforms for the detection of infectious diseases in developing countries [25].
EL-Lessy et al. [7] demonstrated that a novel antigen-capture immunoassay utilizing IgG pAb conjugated with graphene nanoparticles was employed for the detection of Giardia antigen in stool samples, marking the initial trial for diagnosing human giardiasis. The study found that both Dot-ELISA and Nano-graphene-based Dot-ELISA exhibited identical sensitivity (91.8%) for detecting Giardia antigen in stool samples. However, Dot-ELISA outperformed Nano Dot-ELISA in terms of specificity (80% vs 68.6%), PPV (88.9% vs 83.6%), NPV (84.8% vs 82.8%), and diagnostic accuracy (87.5% vs 83.3%). Nonetheless, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two methods (P>0.05). The Nano- sandwich ELISA demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.6% in sera from MF patients and 47.6% within the chronic group, with a specificity of 95.1% [25]. Aly et al. [25] reported that the diagnosis of W. bancrofti using sandwich ELISA yields a quantitative result that correlates with adult worm load.
Finally, the present work’s main objective was to evaluate and demonstrate a novel test that is rapid and selective for the diagnosis of hydatidosis by nano-immunochromatography, compared with sandwich and nano-sandwich ELISA. 
5. Conclusion
The results showed that by using sandwich ELISA, 39 out of 50 hydatid-infected samples showed positive results, and the sensitivity of the assay reached 78%. seven out of 50 other parasite-infected groups had positive results, giving 93% specificity. Using nano-sandwich ELISA, 42 out of 50 hydatid-infected samples showed positive results, and the sensitivity of the assay reached 84%. Seven out of 50 other parasite-infected groups had positive results, giving 93% specificity. Using ICT, 36 out of 50 hydatid infected samples showed positive results, and the sensitivity of the assay was 72%. Sixteen out of 50 other parasite-infected groups had positive results, giving 80% specificity. The specificity of sandwich ELISA and nano-sandwich ELISA reached 93%, and it was 80% by using the ICT techniques. The use of nano-sandwich ELISA is one of the best methods for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis. 
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) for funding this project.
Compliance with ethical guidelines
All the experimental procedures were conducted according to the regulations of the TBRI-REC that operate in a manner consistent with good clinical practice (GCP) under the ICH guidelines and applicable national/local regulations. All approved research work complies with the World Medical Association codes of ethics (Declaration of Helsinki) for experiments in humans.
Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed in the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Funding
This study was supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) (Grant No.: 27778; P.I. Ibrahim Aly).
Authors' contributions
All authors equally contribute to preparing all parts of the research.
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
 

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