Nanowire Sensor Teams Up with Immune System to Detect Disease

October 22, 2008

When it comes to figuring out what kind of disease or infection your body might have, well, your immune system is the best sensor. It has a variety of T-cells, each uniquely equipped with particular surface receptors that are designed to match up like puzzle pieces to prongs on the surface of bacteria or viruses. When a match happens, the T-cells begin to multiply, producing identical copies of itself that have the right surface receptor to attach to the bacteria or virus and eventually destroy it. In the process, the T-cells produce an acid and a tiny electric current.

Researchers at Yale have found a way to sense the T-cell's response using a nanowire and a computer chip. The electronic device could allow doctors to diagnose disease, such the flu, tuberculosis, E. coli, or HIV infection, and even identify that strain.

Tarek Fahmy, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, say that their system detects as few as 200 activated immune cells and can produce results in seconds. The researchers envision an iPod like device that analyzes cells from a patient and provides a digital readout of the disease present.

Caption for images: (top) A mixture of T cells, each with different surface receptors (purple, red, and green) are contained in a fluid and added to a reservoir above an array of nanosensors (gray). (bottom) When a T-cell links up a disease, it becomes activated (yellow glow) and produces an acid and a tiny electric current. The nanosensor picks up the electric current (orange glow) and the computer chip sends the signal to a read out on the device.