We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Diagnostic Method Created Based On Birefringence

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 20 Dec 2015
A new diagnostic method has been created based on birefringence, which is the ability of substances to change the polarization state of light. More...
With this method, doctors around the world could easily, rapidly, and reliably detect pathogenic microorganisms.

Although the concept behind this new technology is very general and appears so easy to operate, the scientific basis underlying the invention is extremely complex. The phenomenon of birefringence of polarized light from the lipid based lyotropic liquid crystals, which consist of self-assembled structures of fat molecules in water.

Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH; Zurich; Switzerland) used lipidic cubic phases that are optically isotropic, transparent lyotropic liquid crystals (LC), containing highly confined water nanochannels in-between percolating lipid bilayers following defined space groups. Due to this nano-confinement, the water in these systems provides a unique environment for chemical and enzymatic reactions.

During the mesoperoxidase enzymatic reaction, the converted product crystallizes within the mesophase domains, generating a detectable birefringence signal and a new general assay principle is presented for the detection of an unprecedented vast class of analytes using such birefringence as sole optical output signal. The team used polarized light microscopy and a small amount of the cubic phase was analyzed under cross-polarized light using an Axioskop 2 MOT microscope (Zeiss; Oberkochen, Germany) at 37 °C. The polarization device costs CHF 20, which considerably less expensive when compared with other detection methods.

By exploiting bienzymatic cascade reactions or introducing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on birefringence (Birefringent-ELISA), this approach was used for real-time detection of exemplary analytes, such as glucose and cholesterol, model pathogenic microorganisms, Escherichia coli, and viruses such as Ebola and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The team also showed how the same technology enables the rapid, naked-eye screening of malaria infection via in meso detection of hemozoin crystallites. Pathogens can be detected very rapidly, and a reliable result received within less than an hour.

Raffaele Mezzenga, PhD, a professor and lead author of the study said, “The Plasmodium parasite invades erythrocytes and digests hemoglobin. The heme component, which is toxic to the parasites, is crystallized and thus has inherently birefringent surfaces. So it's not necessary to mark it with antibodies and no enzymatic reaction is required.” The study was published in the November 2015 issue of the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

Related Links:

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 
Zeiss 



New
Gold Member
Serological Pipets
INTEGRA Serological Pipets
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
New
6 Part Hematology Analyzer with RET + IPF
Mispa HX 88
New
HBV DNA Test
GENERIC HBV VIRAL LOAD VER 2.0
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: Platelets sequester cfDNA during circulation (Murphy L. et al., Science, 2025; DOI: 10.1126/science.adp3971)

Platelets Could Improve Early and Minimally Invasive Detection of Cancer

Platelets are widely recognized for their role in blood clotting and scab formation, but they also play a crucial role in immune defense by detecting pathogens and recruiting immune cells.... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The test could streamline clinical decision-making by identifying ideal candidates for immunotherapy upfront (Xiao, Y. et al. Cancer Biology & Medicine July 2025, 20250038)

Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, making immunotherapy a promising yet unpredictable option. Current biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: New diagnostics could predict a woman’s risk of a common sexually transmitted infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Markers Could Predict Risk of Severe Chlamydia Infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other reproductive complications when it spreads to the upper genital tract.... Read more

Pathology

view channel
image: Researchers Marco Gustav (right) and MD Nic G. Reitsam (left) discuss the study data (Photo courtesy of Anja Stübner/EKFZ)

AI Model Simultaneously Detects Multiple Genetic Colorectal Cancer Markers in Tissue Samples

Colorectal cancer is a complex disease influenced by multiple genetic alterations. Traditionally, studies and diagnostic tools have focused on predicting only one mutation at a time, overlooking the interplay... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.