Technology is being used in every profession including medical science. Recently, a microchip was created using the nanotechnology to detect Type 1 diabetes in patients. This is a big benefit for doctors because for detecting Type 1 diabetes doctors need to spend a lot of time as they go to identify the specific protein markers in blood. This may take days to weeks. But the recent research by Stanford university school of medicine came up with this nanotechnology chip. This chip can detect Type 1 diabetes within a very low time span – in minutes.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an immune disease, by which the immune system can affect the pancreas. By this the pancreas stops producing insulin – a hormone to process sugars. Early detection of Type 1 diabetes may benefit the patient.
Conventional method of using radio active material for testing Type 1 diabetes in patients takes several days for detecting the condition, and in the meanwhile the diseases may become severe. With nanotechnology chip, it is very easy to detect in minutes.
Nanotechnology chip for Type 1 diabetes
Besides the radio active material used in conventional methods of detecting Type 1 diabetes in patients, this nanotechnology chip produces results quickly. It takes a small amount of blood through a finger prick. For detecting the antibodies this microchip depends on fluorescence based method.
The base of the microchip is coated with nanoparticle-sized islands of gold which show the fluorescent signal. This enables the antibody detection. This test recognizes the auto-antibodies levels quickly before they show the symptoms. Even a single auto-antibody will make you get into risk.
With conventional methods, doctors can’t exactly detect the type of diabetes the patient has.
Stanford university researchers developed this wonderful technology, which benefits the patients in many ways and they are also trying to launch this in the market very soon.
Benefits of nanotechnology chip for Type 1 diabetes
- It is an inexpensive method for detecting Type 1 diabetes.
- It requires minimal training for the technique to be used and reduces the burden for physicians.
- Detection of Type 1 diabetes using this technology takes only a few minutes when compared to conventional treatment which takes a few days.
- Early detection is the main advantage of this technology.
- This chip can be used for performing nearly 15 tests.
- It takes a small amount of blood compared to conventional methods.