Development of a Paper-Immobilized Yeast Biosensor for the Detection of Physiological Concentrations of Doxycycline in Technology-Limited Settings
Posted by Adam Awdish on
Pooled Human Urine from Innovative Research was used in the following study:
Rachel A. Miller, Galen Brown, Elsa Barron, Jamie L. Luther, Marya Lieberman, and Holly V. Goodson
Analytical Methods
April 7, 2020
Estimates suggest that at least 10% of all medical products sold in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are substandard and/or falsified. Because of this, there is a need for better analytical tools for detecting pharmaceuticals in settings with limited access to medical technology. The main need for such tools is for quality control of pharmaceutical dosage forms, though are additional needs for such technology such as to detect physiological concentrations of drugs to check adherence to drug regimens, test the efficacy of drugs, and to test food products for pharmaceutical contamination.
The current standard for detecting pharmaceuticals is high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Unfortunately, the high initial cost of equipment, supplies, and training make this technology out of reach for many areas. There has been progress in developing inexpensive and portable devices to monitor pharmaceutical quality in LMICs, however, these devices aren’t selective enough to discriminate between closely related drug classes, and they do not necessarily respond to biologically relevant species of pharmaceuticals.
This study developed the first whole cell yeast biosensor incorporated into a portable paper substrate. This biological paper analytical device (bioPAD) detected the antibiotic doxycycline, a drug widely used in LMICs. In order to make the bioPAD more user-friendly, researchers integrated a fluorescent reporter into our bioPAD. Fluorescent reporters do not require cell lysis or additional reagents for signal development. This simple biosensor can detect physiologically relevant concentrations of doxycycline in both human urine and raw bovine serum.
Related products available from Innovative Research also include:
Single Donor Human Whole Blood