Biocybernetics

Citation

Rudall, B.H. (1999), "Biocybernetics", Kybernetes, Vol. 28 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.1999.06728aaa.003

Biocybernetics

Biocybernetics

Laboratory on a chip

Scientists at the University of Wales, at Bangor, UK, are designing what is claimed to be the world's first laboratory on a chip. The idea is that information on the chip will be able to tell doctors to what is wrong with a patient. The aim is make the system reveal this information instantly. For example, current work aims to make it spot genetic defects in babies and to detect Down's syndrome without risking harm to the foetus.

The lab on a chip is about the size of a credit card, and instead of using chemical tests, it functions by bombarding cells with electricity. The resulting reaction from the cells can reveal what is wrong. The advantage of such a system is obvious since conventional diagnostic testing, the developers say, is complex, time consuming and requires experts to take the necessary samples and to interpret the results. It may take, for example, some three days to culture a sample of bacteria taken from the blood to find out what is wrong with a patient.

The new system developed at Bangor, Wales, takes a different approach. The principle used, the researchers say, is that it functions on the principle that bacteria, antibodies, cells, viruses and other biological molecules have unique electrical signatures when they are exposed to alternating electromagnetic fields. To detect the differences in these signatures the researchers have designed microelectronic structures to create miniature electric fields for the task.

Dr Julian Burt of the university's Institute of Molecular and Bimolecular Electronics says that:

Basically what we have are arrays of microelectrodes so that if you put any particle in front of these arrays they will move under the influence of the field. The direction and speed they move is dependent on the electrical properties of the particles which change with different physiological conditions.

The researchers say that what makes the signature individual is the conductivity of the cell surface, so that when the cell surface changes because of disease or infection, the conductivity changes too, and can be detected. When the equipment is calibrated with known conductivities it becomes possible to detect diseases. It is also claimed that with these techniques, individual bio-particles can be sorted, separated and characterised.

Dr Burt says that:

Any particle you put into an electromagnetic field will move. What our technology does is to pick up the differences by measuring how fast and in which direction they race along the electrode arrays and that makes it potentially a valuable diagnostic tool.

We have been been looking at using it for a diagnosis of Down's syndrome. You would take a sample of blood from the mother, find the cells from the foetus and then examine the DNA to see if the foetus has Down's or any other genetic defect. Existing tests involve some slight risk to the foetus and our aim is to get rid of that.

It is reported that the researchers have been looking at a number of applications and believe that technology can detect a wide range of diseases and infections including genetic defects and the changes that occur in cells that are cancerous. The final device, we are told, will be the size of a fairly thick credit card. It will have an entry port for bacteria, blood or urine. The aim is for the system to produce an accurate, specific and almost instant diagnosis. It is claimed that it will analyse almost anything so long as it is in suspension.

The current research is funded by the UK's Biological and Biotech Research Council and supported by a new £1.5m laser-ablation chip manufacturing plant.

Biocyberneticians will appreciate that there will be many new applications of this innovative technology. The developers, who have now set up a "spin-off" company to exploit the technology, believe that their device has great potential in healthcare because it is much quicker and far cheaper than conventional testing.

In addition, it is obvious that such technology will also have non-health applications. One such application is currently being investigated by the research team. It involves the development of a similiar card that could be used for the detection of bacteria in water supplies. Many more applications are being investigated including uses in environmental screening and testing for toxicity in foods.