biospectrumasiaSeptember 15, 2017
Tag: tuberculosis , research
Conventional methods such as sputum smear microscopy, chest X-rays and molecular-based tests require equipment, electricity and specialized personnel that are not always available in remote or developing areas.
So a group of scientists from National Taiwan, China University are set to come up with a more practical diagnostic test that can be read with a smartphone, a technology that is increasingly available in emerging economies.
The researchers combined gold nanoparticles with fluorescent single-stranded DNA sequences that bind to the genetic material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mtb, the bacteria that cause TB.
These nanoparticles were then incorporated into a paper-based device. Adding even a minute amount of lab-derived, double-stranded DNA from Mtb changed the color of the test spots within an hour. A smartphone camera was used to analyze the color change to determine the bacterial concentration.
The researchers also tested a tissue sample from an infected patient to further demonstrate that the device could be used in the field.
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