Washington, Aug 27 (Inditop.com) Scientists have come up with a novel electronic sensor that ensures faster, more accurate and cost-effective testing of DNA for diagnostics and biological research.
Developed by the Singapore-based Institute of Bio-engineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the Nanogap Sensor Array has shown “excellent” sensitivity in detecting trace amounts of DNA.
“This new bio-sensor holds significant promise to speed up on-going efforts in the detection and diagnosis of debilitating diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular problems and infectious viruses,” Jackie Y. Ying, IBN’s executive director, said.
“By saving time and lowering expenses, our newly developed Nanogap Sensor Array offers a scalable and viable alternative for DNA testing,” said Zhiqiang Gao, who led the research at the IBN.
The latest bio-sensor translates the presence of DNA into an electrical signal for computer analysis. The distinctively designed sensor chip has the ability to detect DNA more efficiently by “sandwiching” the DNA strands between the two different surfaces.
Conventionally, human DNA is detected through the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which, while effective, is also expensive, cumbersome and time-consuming for widespread use.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
