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| Handy Tech: Cellphone based tool detects HIV1 within an hour |
Researchers create mobile diagnostic gadget based on nanotechnology and cellphone
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, successfully designed
a cellphone based tool that can test, monitor and detect HIV viruses, making it
a boon for individuals dwelling in regions with limited resources and less access to hospitals. This
newly created technology based on cellphone and nanotechnology comes with
advantages of being handy and affordable at the same time, according to the
paper published in Nature Communications on 16th October, 2018.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is traditionally tested
and monitored using an expensive method that involves Polymeric Chain Reaction
or PCR. Investigators have developed this new technique to make HIV test and monitoring
possible for individuals with handful of sources and incomplete medical care,
especially residents of developing countries.
"Early detection of HIV is significant
to prevent disease progress and transmission. It requires long-term monitoring,
which can be a encumbrance for families that have to travel to reach a clinic
or hospital. This rapid and low-cost cellphone system signifies a new method
for detecting serious infection, which would condense the risk of virus
transmission and could also be used to spot early treatment failure."
said senior author of the research Dr. Hadi Shafiee, a principal examiner,
Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division of Medicine, Brigham and
Women’s Hospital.
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| CALM system motion measurement Credit: Nature Communications |
The device utilizes cellphone-based optical sensing, a
DNA-modified micrometer crafted using nanotechnology and 3D printed phone
attachments, collectively known as CALM system, with the ability to detect the virus’
RNA nucleic acids from a single blood drop. It detects the amplified nucleic
acid of HIV1 using cellphone system on-chip that measures and monitors the
motion of DNA engineered micro-motors without the aid of expensive or bulky equipment.
Researches managed to get the results within an hour using
the cellphone based platform and qualitative detection of HIV was made with precision
of 99.1% specificity and 94.6% sensitivity at a clinically relevant threshold value
of 1000 virus particles per ml. It is interesting to note that the total material
cost of the whole system was less than 5$ per test. The cellphone system has
the capability to be developed as an inexpensive diagnostic tool for virus and
other infectious diseases.
Talking about the application of
their newly created device Hadi says, “Health workers in emerging countries
could easily use these devices when they travel to perform HIV testing and
monitoring. Because the test is so fast, critical decisions about the next therapeutic
step could be made right there. This would eradicate the burden of trips to the
medical clinic and provide individuals with a more effectual means for treating
their HIV."
"We could
use this similar technology as a swift and economical diagnostic tool for other
viruses and bacteria as well. This platform could help a lot of people
worldwide", speaks lead author Dr. Mohamed
Shehata Draz also an instructor in the Renal Division of Medicine and Division
of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and
Women’s Hospital.
Citation and Source: Mohamed Shehata Draz, Hadi Shafiee
et. al DNA engineered micromotors powered by metal nanoparticles for
motion based cellphone diagnostics. Nature Communications,
2018; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06727-8
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