A team of researchers from Brazil and the United States has developed a high-density two-dimensional chip capable of performing dozens of simultaneous electrochemical analyses, potentially revolutionizing the speed and cost of clinical diagnostics.
The study, published in the scientific journal ACS Sensors, demonstrates the chip's versatility in monitoring cancer cell proliferation, detecting Mpox virus biomarkers, and measuring phosphate levels in synthetic human urine.
HIGH-THROUGHPUT DIAGNOSTICS
The primary goal of the innovation is to drastically reduce analysis time for clinical exams. By using a portable device to measure electrochemical properties, the chip allows for high-throughput testing, where multiple substances can be monitored on a single platform.
"The chip can have multiple functionalities, provided the active sensing layer is adapted for the specific substances to be detected," said Professor Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior from the Institute of Physics of São Carlos (IFSC-USP).
Beyond electrochemical methods, the researchers suggest that machine learning could be applied to analyze chip images for even faster and more automated diagnoses.
SCALING FROM LABORATORY TO MARKET
While the laboratory-scale production has been proven successful, the researchers emphasize that moving to mass production will require significant investment in device engineering to ensure reproducibility across thousands of units.
"This type of investment only makes sense if there are companies or clinical analysis laboratories interested in bringing these tests to market," Oliveira Junior noted, highlighting that clinical certification depends on large-scale, reproducible results.
GLOBAL COLLABORATION
The project is a result of a partnership between the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), the IFSC-USP, and the University of Colorado in the United States. The multidisciplinary team included experts from the University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the Federal University of the ABC (UFABC).
