AWARD YEAR
2021
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
Lego, Diagnosis , infectious diseases, Paper-based device, Early detection
COUNTRY
Mexico
DESIGNED BY
Tecnologico de Monterrey
WEBSITE
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0928493119338962
LEGO diagnosis
Using the form and function of LEGO, we've fabricated a device that can detect infectious diseases.
Adhesive components kill biomolecules and therefore are not recommended in bio-diagnosis devices and in close proximity of living organisms. In the existing paper-based 96-well plates for common clinical detection, glue layers are generally used to hold the platform together. This would not only threaten the results of the assay, but also leaves only one side of the paper/bioreceptor free to interact with biomolecules.
We all have played with LEGO toys in our childhood and we know LEGO pieces clamp quite tightly fully capable of holding paper pieces. In a new design, we used this function of LEGO to fabricate an ultrasensitive diagnostic tool for early detection of fatal illnesses including coronavirus. This reusable device hangs the paper pieces in the vertical position within the assay doubling the chance of analyte-surface interaction hence resulting in early detection. Our initial test of this device on Dengue virus have shown a detection in femtomolar range.