ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Sec. Biosensors and Biomolecular Electronics
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1580344
Design and Simulation of a Graphene-Integrated SPR Biosensor for Malaria Detection
Provisionally accepted
Talia Tene1*
Fabian Arias Arias2
Karina I Paredes-Páliz3Juan Carlos González García2
Nataly Bonilla2
Cristian Vacacela Gomez4*- 1Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Loja, Ecuador
- 2Escuela Superior Politécnica del Chimborazo, Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador
- 3National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador
- 4National Laboratory of Frascati (INFN), Frascati, Italy
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This work presents the theoretical design and optimization of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor incorporating graphene, silicon nitride, and a thiol-tethered ssDNA layer for malaria detection and stage differentiation. Two configurations (Sys₃ and Sys₄) were simulated using the transfer matrix method to determine optimal material thicknesses. The final designs were evaluated against three malaria stages-ring, trophozoite, and schizont-based on their refractive index variations. Sys₃ achieved sensitivities of 353.14, 291.14, and 263.26°/RIU, while Sys₄ reached 315.71, 294.81, and 268.65°/RIU, respectively. These values exceed those reported in comparable SPR platforms. Sys₃ showed enhanced optical performance with a higher quality factor and lower detection limit, whereas Sys₄ offered improved biomolecular recognition. Although limited to simulation, the proposed configurations demonstrate potential for label-free, stage-specific malaria diagnostics, supporting future development toward point-of-care applications.
Keywords: Surface Plasmon Resonance, Kretschmann configuration, transfer matrix method, silicon nitride, Graphene, Biosensors, Malaria
Received: 20 Feb 2025; Accepted: 09 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Tene, Arias Arias, Paredes-Páliz, González García, Bonilla and Vacacela Gomez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Talia Tene, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, 1101608, Loja, Ecuador
Cristian Vacacela Gomez, National Laboratory of Frascati (INFN), Frascati, Italy
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