Researchers Tony Hu and Dali Sun from the Arizona State University (ASU) Biodesign Institute in the US have developed a mobile phone adaptation of microscope-leveraging dark-field microscopy.
With brightly lit samples against a black background, the dark-field microscopy allows a clearer view with better contrast abilities.
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Intended to aid in the fight against infectious diseases, the affordable, diagnostic mobile technology can be used at clinics, hospitals and health organisations.
Hu said: “With more and more powerful smartphones equipped with better cameras, this has spurred technology development for now using mobile phone cameras for many medical applications.”
The researchers used three-dimensional (3D) printing to create the first prototype of the new device, which includes a mobile phone attachment and a condenser to focus light onto a sample.
In addition to a battery-operated LED light, the device includes a slide reader and specially coated slides customised to identify a particular infectious disease and evaluate the severity of the infection.
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By GlobalDataUpon testing on a new nanoparticle-based serum assay designed for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, the device is reported to have delivered results similar to those obtained using a standard dark-field microscope system.
Hu noted: “These assays yielded robust results that were similar to, albeit less sensitive than, those obtained with a much more expensive and cumbersome desktop dark-field microscope system.”
It is expected that the less expensive nanoparticle-based detection system with the potential for adaptation to additional infectious diseases will help in early diagnosis and assessment of effective treatments.
