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Monday, 5 August 2013

Test strips bearing gold nano-particles as sensor elements can detect numerous proteins simultaneously

Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 03 Aug 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Test strips bearing gold nano-particles as sensor elements can detect numerous proteins simultaneously
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Chemists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have developed a new method for parallel protein analysis that is, in principle, capable of identifying hundreds or even thousands of different proteins. It could be used to detect the presence of viruses and identify their type in tiny samples. At the same time, it is very cost-effective and quick. "We see possible applications of this technique in medicine, where it could be used, for example, for the rapid diagnosis of a wide range of diseases. It would be almost as easy to use as a pregnancy test strip," said Professor Carsten Sonnichsen of the Institute of Physical Chemistry. The test involves placing a tiny drop of blood, saliva, or other bodily fluid on a small test strip, which is then placed in a device developed at the JGU Institute of Physical Chemistry. This device is able to identify the specific proteins in the fluid and thus allows to quickly and reliably differentiate between harmless microorganisms and dangerous pathogens.

In order to detect the many different substances present in a small sample, the sensors need to be as tiny as possible, preferably the size of nano-particles. Sonnichsen's team of scientists have designed a sensor no larger than the head of a pin but capable of performing a hundred different individual tests on a surface that is only of one-tenth of a square millimeter in area. The 'test strips' consist of glass capillary tubes that have gold nano-particles as sensor elements on their internal surfaces. "We first prepare our nano-particles using short DNA strands, each of which binds to a specific type of protein," explained Janak Prasad, who developed the functionalization method. When a protein docks with one of these special DNA strands, called aptamers, the corresponding nano-particle changes its color. The color changes can be detected with the aid of a spectrometer. For this purpose, the capillary tubes are placed under a microscope designed, constructed, and provided with the necessary software by the Mainz-based team of chemists.

"We demonstrate a new approach for a multiplexed assay that detects multiple proteins simultaneously by letting a fluid flow past the randomly positioned gold nano-rods," explained Christina Rosman, first author of the study. The team from JGU's Institute of Physical Chemistry used four different target proteins to demonstrate the viability of the new concept, its ability to detect concentrations in the nanomolar range, and the possibility to recycle the sensors for more than one analysis. "We see the potential to extend our method to the simultaneous detection of hundreds or even thousands of different target substances," assert the authors in their article published in the June 2013 issue of the journal Nano Letters. Low-cost serial production of the sensors is feasible if advanced nano-fabrication methods such as nano-printing or optical trapping are used.

There are manifold possible applications of a test for multiple targets in a single procedure. The low-cost sensors could be directly used by physicians in their practices in order to detect and discriminate various types of flu viruses with which their patients could be infected. In addition, the technique would also be suitable for detecting the presence of toxins in the environment or in food, particularly in liquids such as milk or baby food, or the presence of doping or other illicit drugs.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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Support for the research on this novel multiplexed protein sensor was provided by the Graduate School of Excellence 'Materials Science in Mainz' (MAINZ) and the European Research Council (ERC) 'Single Sense' project.

Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz

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Monday, 29 July 2013

'Motion sensor' may aid autism diagnosis and treatment

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Academic Journal
Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 27 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
'Motion sensor' may aid autism diagnosis and treatment
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Scientists have developed a new screening tool that could use an individual's movement to diagnose and treat autism, according to a series of studies published in the journal Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience.

Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and Rutgers University have developed the method, which presents individuals with various images while a sensitive tracker monitors their movements.

The researchers say that this method, which can be used in children over the age of three, could provide an earlier, more objective and more accurate diagnosis of autism.

The method was tested on 78 children and adults with autism, including non-verbal autistic children and those with mild forms of the disorder.

The researchers say that the tool correctly diagnosed all of the participants, and even diagnosed autism subtypes, identified gender differences and tracked individual progress in treatment and development.

A movement tracker is attached to the individual, which senses "systemic signatures," measuring each person's movement as they respond to various screen images from an advanced computer program, showing 240 images a second.

The researchers say that this tool analyzes the importance of changes in movement and movement sensing, enabling the identification of stable capabilities in each individual, as well as highlighting the impairments of a person's movement system.

They add that the screening tool can measure tiny fluctuations, determining exactly how an individual's movement differs to that of a more typically developing child or adult. Dr Jorge José, vice president of research at Indiana University, says:

"We can estimate the cognitive abilities of people just from the variability of how they move. This may lead to a complementary way to develop therapies for autistic children at an early age."

The researchers say this tool can change the way autistic children learn and communicate by helping them to develop self-motivation, as opposed to being told or conditioned in what to do.

As part of the screening method, 25 autistic children were presented with a variety of media visuals, including videos of themselves, cartoons and music videos, and were given games to play. The children communicated which visuals they liked in a single motion.

Dr Elizabeth Torres, assistant professor in psychology at the School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, explains:

"Every time the children cross a certain region in space, the media they like best goes on. They start out randomly exploring their surroundings. They seek where in space that interesting spot is which causes the media to play, and then they do so more systematically.

"Once they see a cause-and-effect connection, they move deliberately. The action becomes an intentional behavior."

She adds that through this method, the children independently learned that they could control their own bodies in order to communicate what they wanted to watch.

At present, there is no medical test to diagnose autism, and the disorder is diagnosed through specialists' opinions on an individual's behavior and communication.

The researchers say it is too early to see whether this research will lead to methods of therapy and diagnosis that are publicly available.

But Torres says she is confident that parents of autistic children would find it easy to adapt to her computer-aided technique and help their children.

Dr Jorge José adds:

"This research may open doors for the autistic community by offering the option of a dynamic diagnosis at a much earlier age and possibly enabling the start of therapy sooner in the child's development."

Written by Honor Whiteman

Copyright: Medical News Today
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Autism: the micro movement perspective, published in the journal Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, July 24, 2013