An Electrochemical Bio-barcode Device for Home Disease Monitoring and Diagnosis
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 28 Oct 2020 |
|
Image: A recently developed electrochemical bio‐barcode device paired with a smartphone enables cancer patients to read critical biomarker levels at home in samples of self-drawn blood (Photo courtesy of Georgia Kirkos, McMaster University)
A point-of-care (POC) electrochemical bio‐barcode device and assay system have been developed to enable analysis of protein biomarkers in undiluted and unprocessed human plasma samples.
There is a need for biosensing systems that can be operated at the POC for disease screening and diagnostics and health monitoring. In spite of this, simple to operate systems with the required analytical sensitivity and specificity for clinical samples remain a rarity.
To correct this situation investigators at McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada) and Brock University (St. Catharines, Canada) devised an electrochemical bio‐barcode assay (e‐biobarcode assay) that integrated biorecognition with signal transduction using molecular (DNA/protein) machines and signal readout using nanostructured electrodes.
The design of the e‐biobarcode assay eliminated multistep processing and used a single step for analysis following sample collection into the reagent tube. In use, a drop of blood is added to a vial of reactive solution, and a small amount of the mixture is placed onto a strip and inserted into a reader. In minutes, the device determines the concentration of an antigen.
In the current study, the investigators demonstrated the clinically relevant determination of prostate specific antigen (PSA) - the biomarker for prostate cancer - in undiluted and unprocessed human plasma.
"This is another step toward truly personalized medicine," said senior author Dr. Leyla Soleymani, associate professor of engineering physics at McMaster University. "We are getting away from centralized, lab-based equipment for this kind of testing. This would make monitoring much more accessible and cut down on the number of times patients need to leave home to provide blood samples."
"Once commercialized, this device will be a paradigm shift for cancer diagnosis and prognosis," said contributing author Dr. Feng Li, associate professor of chemistry at Brock University. "Since this device is a lot more accessible and user-friendly than conventional technologies, patients will be more willing to use it, which can improve clinical outcomes and save lives."
The e‐biobarcode assay was described in the October 7, 2020, online edition of the journal Angewandte Chemie.
Related Links:
McMaster University
Brock University
There is a need for biosensing systems that can be operated at the POC for disease screening and diagnostics and health monitoring. In spite of this, simple to operate systems with the required analytical sensitivity and specificity for clinical samples remain a rarity.
To correct this situation investigators at McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada) and Brock University (St. Catharines, Canada) devised an electrochemical bio‐barcode assay (e‐biobarcode assay) that integrated biorecognition with signal transduction using molecular (DNA/protein) machines and signal readout using nanostructured electrodes.
The design of the e‐biobarcode assay eliminated multistep processing and used a single step for analysis following sample collection into the reagent tube. In use, a drop of blood is added to a vial of reactive solution, and a small amount of the mixture is placed onto a strip and inserted into a reader. In minutes, the device determines the concentration of an antigen.
In the current study, the investigators demonstrated the clinically relevant determination of prostate specific antigen (PSA) - the biomarker for prostate cancer - in undiluted and unprocessed human plasma.
"This is another step toward truly personalized medicine," said senior author Dr. Leyla Soleymani, associate professor of engineering physics at McMaster University. "We are getting away from centralized, lab-based equipment for this kind of testing. This would make monitoring much more accessible and cut down on the number of times patients need to leave home to provide blood samples."
"Once commercialized, this device will be a paradigm shift for cancer diagnosis and prognosis," said contributing author Dr. Feng Li, associate professor of chemistry at Brock University. "Since this device is a lot more accessible and user-friendly than conventional technologies, patients will be more willing to use it, which can improve clinical outcomes and save lives."
The e‐biobarcode assay was described in the October 7, 2020, online edition of the journal Angewandte Chemie.
Related Links:
McMaster University
Brock University
New
Platinum Member
Flu SARS-CoV-2 Combo Test
OSOM® Flu SARS-CoV-2 Combo Test
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
Gold Member
TORCH Panel Rapid Test
Rapid TORCH Panel Test
Latest Technology News
- Microneedle Patch Detects Skin Cancer Early
- New Diagnostic System Achieves PCR Testing Accuracy
- DNA Biosensor Enables Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
- Self-Heating Microfluidic Devices Can Detect Diseases in Tiny Blood or Fluid Samples
- Breakthrough in Diagnostic Technology Could Make On-The-Spot Testing Widely Accessible
- First of Its Kind Technology Detects Glucose in Human Saliva
- Electrochemical Device Identifies People at Higher Risk for Osteoporosis Using Single Blood Drop
- Novel Noninvasive Test Detects Malaria Infection without Blood Sample
- Portable Optofluidic Sensing Devices Could Simultaneously Perform Variety of Medical Tests
- Point-of-Care Software Solution Helps Manage Disparate POCT Scenarios across Patient Testing Locations
- Electronic Biosensor Detects Biomarkers in Whole Blood Samples without Addition of Reagents
- Breakthrough Test Detects Biological Markers Related to Wider Variety of Cancers
- Rapid POC Sensing Kit to Determine Gut Health from Blood Serum and Stool Samples
- Device Converts Smartphone into Fluorescence Microscope for Just USD 50
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
New ADLM Guidance Provides Expert Recommendations on Clinical Testing For Respiratory Viral Infections
Respiratory tract infections, predominantly caused by viral pathogens, are a common reason for healthcare visits. Accurate and swift diagnosis of these infections is essential for optimal patient management.... Read more
3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models
Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more.jpg "Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)")
POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection
Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more
Highly Reliable Cell-Based Assay Enables Accurate Diagnosis of Endocrine Diseases
The conventional methods for measuring free cortisol, the body's stress hormone, from blood or saliva are quite demanding and require sample processing. The most common method, therefore, involves collecting... Read moreHematology
view channel
Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns
Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more
First 4-in-1 Nucleic Acid Test for Arbovirus Screening to Reduce Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections
Arboviruses represent an emerging global health threat, exacerbated by climate change and increased international travel that is facilitating their spread across new regions. Chikungunya, dengue, West... Read more
POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more
First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy
Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read moreImmunology
view channel.jpg "Image: The AI tool predicts whether someone’s cancer will respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (Photo courtesy of National Cancer Institute)")
AI Tool Predicts Cancer Patients’ Response to Immunotherapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a form of immunotherapy drug that enables immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. At present, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two predictive biomarkers... Read more
Molecular Profiling Improves Diagnosis for Children with High Risk Cancers
Cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death among children in most developed nations, and approximately one-fourth of these patients are diagnosed with aggressive, high-risk, or relapsed... Read more
.jpg "Image: The AI predictive model identifies the most potent cancer killing immune cells for use in immunotherapies (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)")
Microbiology
view channel
POC STI Test Shortens Time from ED Arrival to Test Results
In a 2024 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) surveillance report by the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2.5 million cases were recorded, alongside a rise in the inappropriate use of antibiotics... Read more
Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing
Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for 1.3 million deaths every year, positioning it as one of the top killers globally due to a single infectious agent. In 2022, around 10.6 million people were diagnosed... Read more
Automated Sepsis Test System Enables Rapid Diagnosis for Patients with Severe Bloodstream Infections
Sepsis affects up to 50 million people globally each year, with bacteraemia, formerly known as blood poisoning, being a major cause. In the United States alone, approximately two million individuals are... Read more
Enhanced Rapid Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Solution Detects Broad Range of Infectious Diseases
GenMark Diagnostics (Carlsbad, CA, USA), a member of the Roche Group (Basel, Switzerland), has rebranded its ePlex® system as the cobas eplex system. This rebranding under the globally renowned cobas name... Read morePathology
view channel
Self-Taught AI Tool Diagnoses and Predicts Severity of Common Lung Cancer
A computer program powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and trained on nearly half a million tissue images can effectively diagnose cases of adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent type of lung cancer.... Read more
Novel AI-Powered Method for Tissue Analysis Improves Understanding of Disease Pathology
Scientists at Brown University (Providence, RI, USA) and the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) have created a groundbreaking computational technique to examine complex tissue data, potentially... Read more
Technology
view channel
Microneedle Patch Detects Skin Cancer Early
Wearable bioelectronics has emerged as a significant innovation in healthcare, especially in the field of biosensing, providing a new method to monitor individual health for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.... Read more
New Diagnostic System Achieves PCR Testing Accuracy
While PCR tests are the gold standard of accuracy for virology testing, they come with limitations such as complexity, the need for skilled lab operators, and longer result times. They also require complex... Read more
Industry
view channel
Roche and Hitachi High-Tech Extend 46-Year Partnership for Breakthroughs in Diagnostic Testing
Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and Hitachi High-Tech (Tokyo, Japan) have renewed their collaboration agreement, committing to a further 10 years of partnership. This extension brings together their long-standing... Read more
Danaher and Johns Hopkins University Collaborate to Improve Neurological Diagnosis
Unlike severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), mild TBI often does not show clear correlations with abnormalities detected through head computed tomography (CT) scans. Consequently, there is a pressing need... Read more
Beckman Coulter and MeMed Expand Host Immune Response Diagnostics Partnership
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and MeMed BV (Haifa, Israel) have expanded their host immune response diagnostics partnership. Beckman Coulter is now an authorized distributor of the MeMed... Read more_1.jpg "Image: Thermo Fisher will distribute Bio-Techne products across Europe (Photo courtesy of 123RF)")
