York sensor could transform disease diagnosis

Tests to detect infection or disease require a sample of blood from a patient, which is analysed in a laboratory to detect markers of disease.  The presence of certain proteins can give an indication of a health condition and the best course of treatment, but only one type of protein can be identified per sample.

If multiple tests are required the delivery of results can take longer, which increases the cost of tests.

The York biosensor, developed with support from EPSRC, combines light and electricity to detect multiple disease biomarkers in one smaller sample of blood. The technology could make blood tests more comfortable for patients and enable results to be processed quicker.

According to the University, the new solution combines light and electricity in silicon sensors in a way that has not been done before.

PhD student, Jose Juan Colas, who conducted the research at the University’s Department of Electronics, told The Engineer that the sensor consists of nanometre devices that resonate at a specific optical frequency.