In addition, the total test time is 4 hours, 45 minutes,
The biosensor combines micromechanical silicon structures with gold nanoparticles, both functionalised with p24-specific antibodies. At the end of the immunoassay procedure, p24 is sandwiched between the gold nanoparticles and the micromechanical silicon structures. The gold nanoparticles have optical resonances known as plasmons. These are capable of scattering light very efficiently and have attracted interest in the field of optics over the last decade. Micromechanical structures are excellent mechanical sensors capable of detecting interactions even at the scale of intermolecular forces. The combination of these two structures produces both mechanical and optical signals that amplify one another, producing the sensitivity required to detect p24.
The technology, which has been patented by CSIC, is also being applied toward the early detection of certain types of cancer.
"The chip itself, the physical part, is identical for HIV tests and for cancer biomarker tests. What changes is the chemical component— the solution applied— so that it reacts to what we are looking for. That's why our fundamental work is focused on developing applications for this new technology," says CSIC researcher Javier Tamayo, who works at the Institute of Microelectronics in Madrid.
"The biosensor uses structures which are manufactured using well-established microelectronics technology, thus making large-scale, low-cost production possible. This, combined with its simplicity, could make it a great choice for use in developing countries," says Tamayo.
Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-02-team-biosensor-hiv-week-infection.html#jCp
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