Nanosensors for disease detection

2009/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Nanoteknologia

Researchers at the Cidetec-IK4 technology center have developed electrochemical sensors in collaboration with the University of Berkeley and the CSIC. These sensors allow, among other things, to detect DNA mutations more quickly than before. The sensors use a single nanotransistor and have a single carbon nanotube as a cable. This has allowed detecting unaltered DNA probes. Therefore, they can use them in genetics and biotechnology. In some genetic diseases they are aware of which gene is responsible for the disease and sensors can be used to detect certain gene sequences, as they are actually very selective.