Test Strip for Heart Attacks

Jan-18-15 Researchers have developed a "test strip" able to detect the biomarkers for a heart attack, opening the door to a quick diagnosis and faster treatment.

The test strip works by using gold nanoparticles to detect the increased levels of troponin (cTn-I), a protein in the blood that signals the possibility of a recent heart attack. The surface of the gold nanoparticles were created specifically for the strip via a "microplasma-induced liquid chemical process," which drastically increased the particles' sensitivity. This process allow more antibodies to stick to the surface of the strip, enabling researchers to detect low concentrations of the cTn-I protein.

The new microplasma technique could also find its way into other applications, including detecting tumors, imaging cancers, delivering medications and treating degenerative diseases.

Image: Microscopic view of microplasma-gold nanoparticles on the new test strip

More Info about this Invention:

[MEDGADGET.COM]
[ENGINEERING.NYU.EDU]

---