Advisor: Prof. Dana Alsulaiman

Abstract:
Dengue virus remains a major global health challenge, particularly in regions with limited access to rapid and sensitive molecular diagnostics. Electrochemical biosensors have emerged as promising platforms for point-of-care nucleic acid detection due to their portability, low cost, and high analytical sensitivity. In this thesis, an MXene-based electrochemical sandwich biosensor was developed for the detection of Dengue virus RNA. The platform combines sequence-specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes, methylene blue electrochemical signaling, and Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene nanomaterials to enable RNA recognition at the electrode interface. In addition, a DNA-guided RNase H preprocessing strategy was implemented to generate short RNA fragments compatible with efficient surface hybridization. The work focuses on the engineering of the sensing interface, optimization of hybridization and electrochemical conditions, and evaluation of analytical performance toward Dengue RNA detection. The developed platform provides insights into MXene-based nucleic acid biosensing and highlights the importance of interfacial engineering for electrochemical RNA diagnostics.

Bio:
Gilda Quezada Correa is a Master’s student in Bioengineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Her research focuses on the development of MXene-based electrochemical biosensing platforms for viral RNA detection, with particular interest in nucleic acid sensing, bioelectronic interfaces, and diagnostic technologies. Her work combines nanomaterials, electrochemistry, and bioengineering toward the development of next-generation biosensors for molecular diagnostics.