A biosensor could identify the people most likely to suffer from osteoporosis thanks to a drop of blood.
- Researchers have developed a portable electrochemical device, which would help establish an early diagnosis of osteoporosis.
- From a drop of blood taken from the finger, they were able to detect genetic variations associated with this bone disease.
- The analysis can be done quickly, in about 15 minutes.
In France, osteoporosis is two to three more common in women than in men due to menopause, according to health insurance. “Around the age of 65, it is estimated that 39% of women suffer from it. Among those aged 80 and over, this proportion rises to 70%.” Early detection of osteoporosis is crucial to reduce the risk of bone fracture and other complications associated with this pathology. However, current screening methods, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, are not effective enough to detect early signs of bone density loss. This means that many patients are only diagnosed after suffering fractures or experiencing severe pain.
Osteoporosis: a biosensor detects genetic variations in 15 minutes
To remedy this situation, an international team of researchers recently developed a portable electrochemical device, which could establish the early diagnosis of osteoporosis. This biosensor uses less than a drop of blood taken from the finger to detect five genetic variations associated with osteoporosis. The researchers created a network of electrodes on which are attached DNA fragments specific to each genetic variation. Using an innovative platform, they managed to detect these genetic variations in human blood samples in just about 15 minutes, according to the results of their study published in the journal ACS Central Science.
As the equipment and reagents are easily accessible and portable, scientists say this device has great potential for use in medical settings. “The technology is also versatile and can be easily adapted to detect other genetic variations, as has been shown by identifying drug resistance in tuberculosis from sputum and cardiomyopathy risk from blood,” can we read in their press release.
A single drop of blood to reduce morbidity and mortality
By enabling early detection of osteoporosis, it could enable healthcare professionals to rapidly initiate treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with osteoporosis. In addition, this portable biosensor could facilitate the detection of bone disease in remote areas or low-resource countries. It could also contribute to a better understanding of the genetic factors that influence the risk of osteoporosis, thus allowing the development of more targeted and personalized treatments.