(IMAGE)

University of Montreal

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Professor Alexis Vallée-Bélisle of the University of Montreal and his colleagues have built an inexpensive, portable sensor that enables fast and easy detection of multiple diagnostically relevant proteins (in fewer than 10 minutes.) The sensing principle is straightforward: the diagnostically relevant protein (green or red), if present, binds to an electro-active DNA strand and limits the ability of this DNA to hybridize to its complementary strand located on the surface of a gold electrode. This causes a reduction of electrochemical signal, which can be easily measured using inexpensive devices similar to those used in the home glucose self-test meter. Using this sensor, the researchers were able to detect several proteins directly in whole blood in less than 10 minutes.

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Ryan & Peter Allen

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