Release date: 2009-11-18
Blood tests are an important part of medical diagnosis, but sending blood samples for analysis is time consuming and expensive. Today, British scientists are using nanotechnology to develop a portable, low-cost blood test tool.
Developed by the University of Southampton, the new tool will allow doctors to use the tool for blood tests on the spot instead of sending blood samples to the lab, saving time and reducing costs. Peter Ashburn, a professor at the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton who led the study, said: "If the basic blood test can be done in the doctor's office and the results can be given immediately, then in addition to saving money, patients can be provided more Good, faster service." "There are several applications for this technology. In addition to diagnostics, this tool can also be used to screen, monitor disease progression and invent new drugs," he added.
This is a three-year project of an interdisciplinary team of scientists working in electronics and computer science, medicine, social sciences, and chemical research to develop new nanowires for mass production of this new blood test. tool. The surface of the nanowires is coated with a layer of chemicals that allow them to detect certain antibodies in the blood. When antibodies stick to such tiny lines, the amount of current passing through them changes. Nanowires can be implanted on a tiny chip to act as a sensor. Researchers are using nanotechnology to develop such tools in a manner similar to that commonly used in computer and television displays.
According to Ashburn, standard laboratory blood tests are limited if they are outside the laboratory. The need for portable blood tests is becoming more urgent as a result of the need for rapid diagnosis of complex conditions, such as tumor enlargement.
Ashburn said: "Standard clinical laboratory testing has limitations outside the laboratory, which reduces the diagnostic impact of new protein biomarkers on complex conditions such as cancer and chronic inflammation. One-dimensional nanostructures such as nanowires , is the ideal material for diagnosis, because they can be integrated into the microfluidic chip, and the chip can provide a complete sensor system."
The potential of these technologies is enormous, but the application of innovative medical technologies requires a thorough understanding of the actual operations in everyday work. Therefore, a large part of the research project is to assess the changes that need to be made when applying new technologies to sociology and integrating them into patient care. “We need to understand how to compare the relationship between this new blood test mechanism and existing organizational forms, expertise and interdisciplinary skills,†said Susan Halford, a professor at the University of Southampton's School of Social Sciences. “In particular, it is replaced by a GP. Hospital laboratory inspections require a nuanced and highly politicized change for medical institutions. Although the technology has great potential, if it has such a high priority social interest in public consultation. Innovation, then we need to understand in depth how to make it truly usable."
According to reports, the system can identify three major types of white blood cells, T lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and faster and cheaper than existing methods. The research team will next include red blood cell and platelet counts into the device. Their ultimate goal was to set up a company that would produce handheld devices that could be purchased for about £1,000, and that would be a disposable chip that would be available for a few pennies. Shanghai Medical Device Industry Association
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