Fingerprint Analysis

It is known that residues of nicotine and illegal drugs can be detected in sweaty palms and moist fingers, but this illustrates the point that many biomarkers for diseases and response to treatment might be gathered from fingerprints.  Researchers at the University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK) are pursuing this possibility using gold nanoparticles containing specific antibodies and fluorescent dyes on a glass plate.  A fingerprint activates the nanoparticles and a light source excites the fluorescence signal.  MORE

Image Credit:  SmartPlanet.com