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Friday, 23rd October 2009 (3239 views)

Scientists from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, have secured a $100,000 (£61,132) grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Grand Challenges Explorations initiative to develop a technique that employs gold nanoparticles to diagnose malaria.

Associate professor of chemistry David Wright and professor of biomedical engineering Rick Haselton won the funding for their "coffee ring stain" project, which aims to produce a simple, low-cost diagnostic tool for malaria infection that can be used in locations lacking electricity, refrigeration and trained technicians.

The technique involves gold nanoparticles coated with a capturing agent being dissolved in a liquid solvent.

This solution is mixed with a blood sample on a glass slide and left to dry. If the blood is infected, the nanoparticles stick to the malaria proteins and change colour from pink to purple. When the sample dries, they form a ring in the same way particles suspended in coffee form a stain.

Professor Wright said: "The simplicity of the colour change means that the test kit won't require a lot of training to administer."

Since its formation in 2006, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has issued grants worth $20.5 billion to support global development and health initiatives.

 

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