Single-use sensor strips detect cerebrospinal fluid leaks
Sensor strips, hand-held circuit boards find fluid leaks from brain,
spinal cord

Date:
February 1, 2022
Source:
American Institute of Physics
Summary:
Researchers developed a single-use sensor strip that can be used
with a circuit board to detect cerebrospinal fluid leaks. They
collected nine clinical samples and introduced the test fluid into
a small liquid channel on the tip of the sensor strips. The liquid
channel held electrodes, which contained antibodies specific to
proteins found only in human cerebrospinal fluid. The circuit
board analyzed the signal and produced a four-digit number that
correlates to the concentration of the protein beta-2-transferrin,
found in CSF.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Developing rapid clinical testing for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks
after trauma, surgery, tumors, and other defects are vital, because
such leaks can cause life-threatening conditions, such as meningitis
and intercranial infection.


========================================================================== Detecting such leaks using primary conventional methods, such as
immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), require hours or days to turn around results. Secondary methods,
such as optical techniques that rely on MRI, often fail to identify the specific leak site.

In Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B by AIP Publishing, researchers
from the University of Florida and Yang Ming-Chiao Tung University
developed a single-use sensor strip that can be used with a circuit board,
like a hand-held glucometer, to detect cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Cerebrospinal fluid is present in the brain and spinal cord and provides critical physiological functions, such as shock absorption and waste
removal.

CSF directly links extracranial space to subarachnoid space, a compartment within which are the major cerebral blood vessels.

In addition to trauma, surgery and congenital defects, CSF leaks are
likely to occur because of obesity, high intercranial pressure, and
obstructive sleep apnea. Cerebrospinal leaks can come out through the
nose or the ears.

"We were surprised to find out that our detection method could not only
provide the result within one second, but our detection limit was also
a lot more sensitive for a very diluted concentration than existing
detection methods," said co-author Minghan Xian.

The researchers collected nine human clinical samples from a Florida
hospital and introduced the test fluid into a small liquid channel on
the tip of the sensor strips. The liquid channel held electrodes, which contained antibodies on the surface specific to proteins found only in
human cerebrospinal fluid.

Once the test fluid was inserted into the liquid channel, a few short
electrode pulses were sent through the electrodes. The circuit board then analyzed the signal and produced a four-digit number that correlates to
the concentration of the protein, called beta-2-transferrin, found in CSF.

The researchers were able to detect beta-2-transferrin in the fluid
sample even when other proteins and salts were present and from samples
across different patients.

The researchers used similar technology to detect proteins in SARS-CoV2,
the virus that causes COVID-19. Their next phase of research will focus
on detecting various cancer and heart disease biomarkers.

special promotion Explore the latest scientific research on sleep and
dreams in this free online course from New Scientist -- Sign_up_now_>>> ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Institute_of_Physics. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Minghan Xian, Chan-Wen Chiu, Patrick H. Carey, Chaker Fares,
Liya Chen,
Rena Wu, Fan Ren, Cheng-Tse Tsai, Siang-Sin Shan, Yu-Te Liao,
Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw, Stephen J. Pearton. Digital biosensor
for human cerebrospinal fluid detection with single-use sensing
strips. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, 2022; 40 (2):
023202 DOI: 10.1116/ 6.0001576 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220201115301.htm

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