Gold nanotechnology test of $ 2 discovers fatal diseases in minutes

In a new study, the researchers show that the test can discover the virus that causes Covid-19 with a specific accuracy, which clearly distinguishes it from other infection.

The new diagnostic device, called NASRE (fast electronic detection supported by nanoparticles), is simple and lower enough to use it almost anywhere-from remote rural clinics to crowded urban hospitals. The tool provides a laboratory quality accuracy without expensive equipment and does not require specialized training, which gives it the ability to become a game of change in the field of public health.

“We have a speed and ease of using a fast antigen test with better allergies than laboratory -based tests,” says Zhao Wang, author of the new study. “This is very difficult.”

Wang is an associate professor at the Molecular Design Center for Molecular Design and Biomedics and ASU School for Computer, Engineering and Energy. It was joined by researchers at Arizona State University Yigi Choi, Sidsina Mirgalili, Ashif Ikepal, Sean McClor, Mazyar Kalaly Muhammadi, Scott Clemens, Jose Solano, John Higlland, Tinging Zhang and Jewi Zu.

The research appears in the current number of the magazine ACS Nano.

Stop the spread of infectious diseases

Infectious diseases are one of the most bloody humanitarian threats, causing enormous suffering and economic damage all over the world. Collectively, infectious diseases cause more than 10 million deaths all over the world every yearand They are the main cause of death in low -income countries.

Nearly 800,000 Americans die or are permanently disabled every year due to diagnostic errors, according to a study published in BMJ Quality & Safety. Many of these cases include inflammation or vascular events that may be treatmentable if arrested early.

In many low -income countries, access to reliable diagnostic tests is limited or not present. Expensive equipment and lack of trained employees and long shift times to late or missed diagnoses – often with fatal consequences.

A rapid and affordable and mobile test such as NASRED would enable health workers in the world lines to discover early infections and respond before inspection out of control.

“In many parts of the world, including the United States, diseases are spread, but people are often not tested – even for something like HIV,” says. If we do not experience it constantly over time, we may miss the opportunity to intervene – until they develop serious complications such as cancer or liver disease, when it is difficult to treat. “

Amazing diagnostic gold

At the heart of the new test, there are small golden nanoparticles, designed to discover very small amounts of diseases -related proteins. The researchers disable these nanoparticles with special particles designed to detect specific diseases.

Some nanoparticles carry antibodies, small particles that work like a magnet. The antibodies adhere to the proteins issued by viruses or bacteria when they affect the body. Other nanoparticles carry antigensand Fragments of proteins are directly taken from viruses or bacteria themselves. These naturally attract antibodies that the body produces to combat infections.

Once the coated, these nanoparticles are combined with a small sample of physical fluid, such as a drop of blood, saliva or nasal fluid. In the event of a disease, most nanoparticles will be drowned at the bottom of the tube. If there is no disease, they will be suspended throughout the liquid.

NASRED lights up a small ray of LED light through liquid at the top of the tube. The team built a dedicated electronic detector that senses the amount of light that passes through the tube. More light means that nanoparticles have been sank to the bottom, leaving the top liquid more clear, which means that the disease exists.

Deficient and accessible at reasonable prices

The device is very sensitive so that it can detect the disease even when it is only a few hundred particles in a small liquid sample – just part of one drop. This is a concentration less than 100,000 times less than standard laboratory tests.

In addition to its promise is the ability of the captain and the ability to bear the costs. Current gold standards for testing, such as PCR or ELISA, require expensive equipment and trained technicians. NASRED is compressed and easy to use. Researchers estimate that each test costs $ 2, which makes it ideal for use in low resources or remotely.

NASRED has the ability to fill a critical diagnostic gap, especially for diseases that are difficult to detect early, such as hepatitis, HIV or Lyme. It is also promising to spread emerging with the spread of spread but high risk. Such diseases are often not diagnosed because a laboratory test for one patient or two patients is only costly effective. NASRED blocks this gap by providing a very sensitive test that works on an immediate and economically at the care point.

While NASRE currently requires small machines from the sample of yarn and mixing, researchers work to increase the miniaturization and automation of the process. As development continues, technology may one day become a suitable test for the home, similar to the current fast Covid-19 tests. However, it will have superior sensitivity and broader applications.

A big leap forward in diagnosis

NASRED greatly exceeds the existing diagnostic criteria. The new study shows that NASRED is 3000 times more sensitive than ELISA, requires a sample size less than 16 times, and provides faster results about 30 times.

A previous version of technology discovered Ebola in a small sample of blood. “For new technology, we have allergy to Attomolar,” says Wang. This is like discovering one drop of ink in 20 Olympic swimming pools.

This technology maintains a promise to detect viral loads directly from physical liquids without preparing the complex sample used in PCR methods. In initial tests with actual Corona virus particles, NASRED has achieved similar sensitivities for ABBTT ID now, which is a popular molecular test for many diseases such as Covid-19.

“One of the strengths in our sensor is that they are very units,” says Wang. “The nanoparticles are designed so that we can easily switch different proteins, allowing the same platform to adapt to many different diseases. We have already shown this approach in our research on the e.coli toxins, as well as proteins related to cancer, touches, and African archive.”

Wang has recently won the Bay Area Lyme Foundation Leader Emering, and will benefit from high allergies and transmission of this new technology to detect early Lyme infection.

With the development of technology, the scope of applications may extend beyond infectious diseases. Early detection of cancer, actual time monitoring of chronic diseases and improving all over the general health threats is affordable.