New low cost diagnostic for cardiovascular risk detection

A new flexible, low-cost cardiovascular risk marker biosensor was developed by Prof. Khaled Salama and his team at KAUST University, Saudi Arabia. The new analytical technique allows the detection and quantification of C-reactive protein (CRP) on a laser written flexible substrate for point-of-care applications.

"Diagnostics have fundamental importance in third world countries where people have limited access to medical care systems" says Khaled Salama, associate professor at the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division (CEMSE). "The future of on-site detection techniques is allowing untrained people using the device to determine the presence of disease-causing markers. Currently, diagnostics require long assay time, trained personnel, sophisticated instruments, and financial support. To overcome the current situation we proposed the use of flexible and paper-based point-of-care devices to detect specific biomarkers" concludes Salama.