Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Highly Sensitive pH Sensor to Aid Detection of Cancers and Vector-Borne Viruses

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 06 Nov 2023

Understanding the acidity or alkalinity of substances through pH measurement is crucial in many fields, from environmental monitoring to healthcare product safety. More...

In many cases, these measurements must be made on very small samples, such as the fluid within a single cell which can be indicative of health conditions like ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, traditional pH measuring techniques are either not sensitive enough or too delicate for small-scale or commercial use. Now, a breakthrough has been made by researchers who have developed a new method that addresses these limitations.

Many current pH testing methods depend on the human eye's interpretation, such as litmus paper tests, which are imprecise and can vary between observers. Furthermore, the chemical dyes in these papers can interfere with the sample itself, skewing results. More precise glass electrodes exist but are so delicate they are impractical outside of lab environments. To tackle these challenges, scientists from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (Jiangsu, China) have developed a new type of pH sensor using advanced materials and fabrication techniques derived from the semiconductor industry.

The innovative sensor incorporates microfluidic channels, through which the fluid samples flow, and is equipped with three advanced electrodes constructed from light-reactive materials and metals. These microfluidic pH sensors are fine-tuned to identify tiny changes in proton levels — the essence of pH measurement — with exceptional precision. Following the development of this patent-pending technology, the scientists are establishing partnerships with industry stakeholders to include this sensor in future lab instruments. They anticipate that this technology will find widespread commercial use, from cancer detection to diagnosing virus infections and even assessing environmental contamination by pesticides.

“Our solution needed to be environmentally friendly, durable, and sensitive enough to accurately measure pH variation in just a few microlitres of samples,” said Dr. Qiuchen Dong, who led the study.

Related Links:
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University


Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Automated PCR Setup
ESTREAM
New
Celiac Disease Test
Anti-Gliadin IgG ELISA
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.