Nanoparticle-based Test Makes Disease And Bacterial Faster

The Queen’s University Belfast researchers have invented a highly modern new enzyme biomarker test that can within no time detect diseases and bacterial contamination saving money, time, and more of lives. The Institute for Global Food Security scientists have developed the innovative enzyme biomarker test that can identify enzyme markers named proteases in diseased humans, animals, or food products.

The microorganisms’ growth and diseases progression are all enhanced by the proteases. The proteases level in the urine of the diabetic, kidney disease, or certain infected wound patients tends to vary. The proteases in the milk can help detect whether the cow is suffering from bovine mastitis. In the case of food, the proteases produced by bacteria in the meat or dairy products leads to rancidity or low shelf life. At the moment, the protease detection methods are a costly fair, less effective, and time-consuming. The new nanosensor of the Queen’s University Belfast is fast, cost-friendly, as well as sensitive. According to Dr. Claire McVey, Queen’s along with his colleagues has published in the journal Nano Research that the test is effective anywhere irrelevant of the laboratory environments. The testing in the laboratories is proving to be life-changing.

The nanosensors made using the gold-nanoparticle helps identify the proteases in the visible color-change reaction. The gold nanoparticles have been used owing to their speeding oxidization of a chemical tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) that is visible in the vivid blue-color reaction. The casein acts as a protective shield around the gold nanoparticles which prevents the TMB from oxidizing causing only a slight color change. The proteases tend to consume the casein and thereby causing the gold nanoparticles to be oxidized by TMB and bring about a fast color change. Within 90 Minutes the proteases could be detected using this approach without the need for expensive laboratory equipment. Even other enzymes could be detected using other coating materials on the nanoparticles. The early diagnosis of the diseases is possible if this technique could help detect the disease-specific enzyme biomarkers. The University of East Anglia scientists have used nanoparticles and two drugs to create a new combinational cancer therapy for reducing the side effects related to drug utilization. FTY720-docetaxel nanoparticle therapy is the one the researchers are planning to synthesize on an industrial scale in the future.