New Nano-Biosensor Able to Diagnose Leukemia

Iranian researchers succeeded in developing a leukemia DNA biosensor based on modified gold nano particles which can diagnose the disease in a short period of time.

The biosensor designed by the scholars of Isfahan University, central Iran, can diagnose the disease in less than 20 minutes.

Ali Asqar Ensafi, a University Professor, said Leukemia is a type of blood cancer characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells . Leukemia can affect the blood, bone marrow, heart, and lymphoid system, all known as hematological neoplasm. Leukemia can also cause failure in multiple organs. The exact cause for leukemia types is still unclear.

He stressed Leukemia, like other cancers, results from mutations in DNA. Certain mutations can trigger leukemia by activating oncogenes or deactivating tumor suppressor genes. These mutations may occur spontaneously or as a result of exposure to radiation or carcinogenic substances.

He stressed mutation of genes is one of the key factors for leukemia and since DNA biosensors possess high sensitivity in diagnosing the cancer, proposing ways to diagnose the disease based on DNA enjoys high value in science.

Ensafi referred to the process through which the cancer is diagnosed, noting, “We parted one sequence of the DNA which has caused the disease in the biosensor and put it on gold nano particles as a bed and then the sequence could easily identify its pair in the blood sample.”

He pointed out DNA enjoys two sequences and due to the high sensitivity, sequences can only mix with their own pairs and through the process different reactions appear which show the disease.

Ensafi stressed DNA sequences are all unique like fingerprint and therefore the percentage of error in this regard is zero.

The professor added air pollution, stress, fears and other different factors can lead to gene mutation and finally to cancer which can be diagnosed by the biosensor while laboratories are not able to identify the disease in early phases due to its low density.

He continued biosensor can diagnose the disease in less than 20 minutes.