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New medical technology for infectious disease tests

Scientists developed new microfluidic paper-based analytical devices to test for infectious diseases by analyzing a single drop of blood.

Paper-based microfluidic analytical devices have gained rapid development since their original introduction by the Whitesides Research Group a decade ago. This new class of paper-based devices, exhibiting both water-loving and water-hating characteristics, have many practical advantages including high sensitivity, accurate and rapid analysis, good biocompatibility, and low cost. They are recognized as a powerful analytical platform in various applications such as food and water analysis, chemical detection, and point-of-care diagnostics.

Challenges in making paper-based microfluidic analytical devices

Realizing a practical paper-based microfluidic analytical device, however, is still facing many challenges. The current colorimetric and fluorescence assays usually suffer from light scattering due to the influence of environmental light conditions, resulting in poor quantitative performance.

Built-in sensors allow antibody detection

In a recent study presented in the scientific journal Angewandte Chemie, a group of researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, and Keio University, Japan, developed a practical and reliable way to test for infectious diseases. This new medical technology uses only a special glowing paper strip, a drop of blood and a digital camera. The built-in bioluminescence resonance energy transfer switches are capable of detecting various antibodies in blood samples, and at the same time, generating a colorimetric signal.

To test for the presence of infectious diseases, a photograph is simply taken 20 minutes after blood sample dropping on the paper devices. A biochemical reaction would cause the underside of paper to emit blue-green light. The brighter the color, the higher the concentration of antibodies. Using this new medical technology, the research team has successfully tested three antibodies simultaneously, for HIV, flu, and dengue fever.

This new medical technology developed by the researchers is simple, low-cost, lightweight, and reliable. It has a lot of potential in developing countries for the easy testing of tropical diseases. Further study should be carried out to investigate the influence of the sample volume on the antibody concentration values.

Written by Man-tik Choy, Ph.D

Reference: Keisuke Tenda, Benice van Gerven, Remco Arts, Yuki Hiruta, Maarten Merkx, Daniel Citterio. Paper-Based Antibody Detection Devices Using Bioluminescent BRET-Switching Sensor Proteins. Angewandte Chemie, 2018; DOI:10.1002/anie.201808070

Man-tik Choy PhD
Man-tik Choy PhD
Man-Tik has a Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research focuses on pharmaceutical sciences, biomaterial design and development, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Man-Tik has developed a strong interest in knowledge discovery and sharing through his practical training in different joint research projects. He is excited to contribute to Medical News Bulletin and help the public to understand science more effectively. In his free time, Man-Tik enjoys reading novels and painting.
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