Diagnostics

Question 1

Mention the three desired features of diagnostic tests

Answer 1

Specific, sensitive, rapid

Also reasonable price, easy

Question 2

Can you give examples of different types of diagnostic settings and their characteristics?

Answer 2

Centralized hospital lab – advanced, trained staff, high reproducibility, high sensitivity, many test, quite slow

Point of care – semi-advanced, smaller instruments, less specificity and sensitivity, faster and closer to patient

Home sampling – low specificity and sensitivity (due to how test), send to lab/point-of care, all of those, inexpensive, longer time

Home testing – low specificity and sensitivity, depends on the patient (how it is done), rapid

Question 3

What are the main advantages with nanomaterial-based detection methods in diagnostics?

Answer 3

Smaller, cheaper, simple sensors (good for point of care)

New materials

(Multiplexing easier?)

Question 4

Give an example about how gold nanoparticles can be used in molecular diagnostics.

Answer 4

Aggregation in lateral flow assays – change color if there is something, Abs concentrate.

1. AuNPs with Abs + sample > travel through the paper to the lines
2. Test line Abs for Ag – gold will or not aggregate – color
3. Control line Abs for Abs – gold will aggregate - color

Question 5

Describe how quantum dots can be used in diagnostics

Answer 5

QDs fluorescence at different light (multiplex)
- Photosatble (shine long time)
- High quantum yield (shine with little light)
- High exctinction coefficient (shine bright)

Application (find sequence):
Capture probe (biotin) binds target, reporter (fluorescence) binds to different parts of target – sandwich hybrid. QDs with streptavidin will bind all captured. If QD and reporter fluorescence > we have it! (Will always shine otherwise)
* Multiplex with different particles of different QDs