SensNews Dec 2018

Sensor100 December 2018 18 Microfluidics: How origami is saving lives in Africa Prof Jon Cooper, University of Glasgow, has described a visit to Uganda to develop a new “origa- mi” paper test, funded by the SFC Global Challenges Research Fund – using the principles of paper-folding to make very low cost DNA based tests that can diagnose the species of the micro-organism infecting patients. From just a finger-prick sample of blood, smeared on a piece of paper, we can inform the appropriate treatments for these infectious diseases. Read the full article 7th November Student Develops Kidney Disease Sensor Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) student Takunda Gwanzura devel- oped a linear flow sensor for naturally occurring protein epidermal growth factor, a kidney disease biomarker. He has now graduated summa cum laude with the Masters thesis “Fabrication of a gold nano-rod metal-organic framework biosensor for kidney disease”. Cape Town News 13 December With these nanoparticles, a simple urine test could diag- nose bacterial pneumonia MIT researchers have developed a nanoparticle-based technology that could be used to improve the speed of diagnosis.This type of sensor could also be used to monitor whether antibiotic therapy has successfully treated the infection, says Sangeeta Bhatia, the John and DorothyWilson Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and Electri- cal Engineering and Computer Science and the senior author of the study. MIT News 29 November