Ultrasensitive Biosensor

The debris of diseased cells ends up as biomarkers—proteins and/or DNA—in the blood.  From reference studies, investigators have identified many of these biomarkers, but their detection still requires expensive technology, such as mass spectrometers.  Now, researchers at Purdue University have built a highly sensitive sensor that combines a vibrating cantilever for detecting molecules by their mass, and a transistor that measures their charge.  In a sense, it is a hand held mass spectrometer—pointing the way toward a new kind of low-cost point of care device. MORE

Image Credit:  Purdue University