A sensor analyzing blood samples was developed by Australian researchers to detect the complications of pregnancy in the eleventh week.
- Australian scientists have developed a specific and rapid sensor to quantify the protein biomarkers of extracellular placental vesicles of early complications of pregnancy.
- With an accuracy of more than 90 %, it made it possible to detect premature birth, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia in 201 women pregnant from 11 to 13 weeks, whose blood was analyzed.
- According to the authors, this technology could help reduce neonatal admissions to the hospital and save significant sums to the health system each year.
Gestational diabetes, premature delivery, hypertension, fetal growth retardation … “Currently, most complications of pregnancy, which can present significant risks for the short and long -term health, cannot be identified before the second or third trimester, which means that it is sometimes too late for an effective intervention”deplored the professor Carlos Salomon Gallofrom the Clinical Research Center of the University of Queensland (Australia). However, this could change thanks to a new device that he set up with his team.
Pregnancy complications are detected by the biosaper with an accuracy of more than 90 %
As part of works, published in the journal Science AdvancesAustralian scientists have developed a nanofleur sensor “Using nanomaterials to detect low concentrations of biomarkers, which are parts of our cells indicating health complications that we could wear. (…) This is what makes our technology more sensitive than current test methods and that is why it can detect potential complications of pregnancy much earlier.”
Concretely, by analyzing blood samples of pregnant women, this device could analyze extracellular vesicles, known as “textual messages of the body”, which transmit essential signals between maternal and fetal cells during pregnancy.
In order to determine the efficiency of the biocaptive, the authors have recruited 201 women being pregnant for 11 to 13 weeks. Their blood was taken and then analyzed by the device. With an accuracy of more than 90 %, it made it possible to detect possible complications, such as premature birth, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, which combines high blood pressure and the presence of proteins in the urine. “Thanks to this technology, pregnant women will therefore be able to request a medical intervention much earlier.”
A sensor that would help relieve the health system
According to researchers, this rapid sensor could allow the health system to save significant sums each year by reducing admissions to neonatal intensive care units and avoiding emergency interventions, including cesareans. Professor Yusuke Yamauchi, who participated in the research, said that he hoped that the sensor would become widely available in pharmacies and through general practitioners. During a future study, the team intends to recruit at least 2,000 women to test the biocaptive.
