Monday, 21st July 2008 (957 views)

Gold nanoparticles are to be used in a new test for pathogen detection and point-of-care clinical diagnostics.

The Bioactive Paper Network from Sentinel works like pH paper and can be used to discover pathogens such as E coli in food and contaminants like lead in water.

It can also provide clinical diagnostics like a pregnancy test and help to monitor pollutants in the environment.

Sentinel said: "Gold nanoparticles are used on the test strips and are spotted or printed on the paper to act as the colour probes."

The company added the paper strips are portable, cheap and disposable and that it is looked for industrial partners to help commercialise the product.

It added that the easy-to-use test strips can be used to help save lives and could help improve the quality of life across the world.

Last month the leaders of the bioactive paper research went to Finland to discuss development of the product with other research teams.

 

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