Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer

Albuminuria is a sensitive biomarker of kidney dysfunction, and the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) is an essential measure for monitoring diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Abnormal levels can indicate a propensity for progressive renal failure and other complications such as cardiovascular diseases. Th...

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Main Authors: Keith E. Dias, Karly C. Sourris, Jay C. Jha, Karin Jandeleit-Dahm, Bayden R. Wood
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3307
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author Keith E. Dias
Karly C. Sourris
Jay C. Jha
Karin Jandeleit-Dahm
Bayden R. Wood
author_facet Keith E. Dias
Karly C. Sourris
Jay C. Jha
Karin Jandeleit-Dahm
Bayden R. Wood
author_sort Keith E. Dias
collection DOAJ
description Albuminuria is a sensitive biomarker of kidney dysfunction, and the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) is an essential measure for monitoring diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Abnormal levels can indicate a propensity for progressive renal failure and other complications such as cardiovascular diseases. This study employed UV/Visible spectroscopy to analyze aqueous urine samples spiked with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and creatinine at clinically relevant concentrations (0–30 mg/L for albumin and 600–1800 mg/L for creatinine) using a multivariate method. UV/Visible spectra of co-spiked samples recorded in triplicate revealed distinct bands at 229 nm and 249 nm, corresponding to BSA and creatinine, respectively, alongside other amino acid bands. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS-R) analysis for BSA yielded a Root Mean Square Error of Calibration (RMSEC) and Cross-Validation (RMSECV) values of 66.93 and 73.92 mg/L, respectively. For creatinine, RMSEC and RMSECV values were 244.32 and 275.65 mg/L, respectively. Prediction models for both BSA and creatinine compared to ELISA demonstrated a robust performance with R<sup>2</sup><sub>PRED</sub> values of 0.96 and 0.95, respectively, indicating strong model reliability. The Limit of Detection (LOD) for co-spiked samples was 19.82 mg/L for BSA and 58.43 mg/L for creatinine. The significance of the achieved Limit of Detection (LOD) lies in its ability to measure concentrations well below the normal physiological ranges of 0–30 mg/L for albumin and 600–1800 mg/L for creatinine. These results demonstrate the proof of concept of applying an UV/Visible-spectroscopy-based method as a rapid, cost-effective point-of-care (PoC) tool for ACR measurements, offering promising applications in the early diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis of diabetic kidney disease and associated cardiovascular complications. The next stage will involve a pilot trial to evaluate the technology’s potential using clinical patients.
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spelling doaj-art-3da916b8efbc4c8da5fa8f44aab17f462025-08-20T02:32:56ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-05-012511330710.3390/s25113307Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis SpectrophotometerKeith E. Dias0Karly C. Sourris1Jay C. Jha2Karin Jandeleit-Dahm3Bayden R. Wood4Monash Biospectroscopy Group, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaDepartment of Diabetes, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, AustraliaDepartment of Diabetes, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, AustraliaMonash Biospectroscopy Group, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaMonash Biospectroscopy Group, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaAlbuminuria is a sensitive biomarker of kidney dysfunction, and the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) is an essential measure for monitoring diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Abnormal levels can indicate a propensity for progressive renal failure and other complications such as cardiovascular diseases. This study employed UV/Visible spectroscopy to analyze aqueous urine samples spiked with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and creatinine at clinically relevant concentrations (0–30 mg/L for albumin and 600–1800 mg/L for creatinine) using a multivariate method. UV/Visible spectra of co-spiked samples recorded in triplicate revealed distinct bands at 229 nm and 249 nm, corresponding to BSA and creatinine, respectively, alongside other amino acid bands. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS-R) analysis for BSA yielded a Root Mean Square Error of Calibration (RMSEC) and Cross-Validation (RMSECV) values of 66.93 and 73.92 mg/L, respectively. For creatinine, RMSEC and RMSECV values were 244.32 and 275.65 mg/L, respectively. Prediction models for both BSA and creatinine compared to ELISA demonstrated a robust performance with R<sup>2</sup><sub>PRED</sub> values of 0.96 and 0.95, respectively, indicating strong model reliability. The Limit of Detection (LOD) for co-spiked samples was 19.82 mg/L for BSA and 58.43 mg/L for creatinine. The significance of the achieved Limit of Detection (LOD) lies in its ability to measure concentrations well below the normal physiological ranges of 0–30 mg/L for albumin and 600–1800 mg/L for creatinine. These results demonstrate the proof of concept of applying an UV/Visible-spectroscopy-based method as a rapid, cost-effective point-of-care (PoC) tool for ACR measurements, offering promising applications in the early diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis of diabetic kidney disease and associated cardiovascular complications. The next stage will involve a pilot trial to evaluate the technology’s potential using clinical patients.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3307urinary albuminUV/Vis spectroscopydiabetic kidney disease
spellingShingle Keith E. Dias
Karly C. Sourris
Jay C. Jha
Karin Jandeleit-Dahm
Bayden R. Wood
Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
Sensors
urinary albumin
UV/Vis spectroscopy
diabetic kidney disease
title Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
title_full Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
title_fullStr Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
title_full_unstemmed Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
title_short Rapid, Precise, and Clinically Relevant Quantification of Urinary Albumin and Creatinine Using a NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
title_sort rapid precise and clinically relevant quantification of urinary albumin and creatinine using a nanodrop uv vis spectrophotometer
topic urinary albumin
UV/Vis spectroscopy
diabetic kidney disease
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3307
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