New test for early disease detection

A new assay to test for the early signs of disease has been developed by researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Vigo.

Research published in the journal Nature Materials revealed a collaboration between scientists at the two institutions has resulted in the creation of a new ultra-sensitive biosensor, capable of detecting extremely low concentrations of the chemicals in the bloodstream which indicate the development of disease.

Biosensors consist of three main elements – a sensitive biological material, a transducer or detector element and a biosensor reader to collate information and provide a result.

Professor Molly Stevens, senior author of the study from the department of materials and bioengineering at Imperial College London, said: "It is vital to detect diseases at an early stage if we want people to have the best possible outcomes.

"Early diagnosis can give us the chance to halt a disease before symptoms worsen."

She added that this first study looked at creating a device highly attuned to detecting the biomarkers of prostate cancer, but the system could easily be amended to look for other illnesses.