The Digestive Diseases Service and the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT-CERCA) have collaborated in the development of a innovative nanophotonic biosensor that allows the direct, rapid detection of the presence ofHelicobacter pylori, a bacterium associated with various gastric pathologies such as ulcers, MALT lymphoma or gastric cancer. In addition, the growing resistance to antibiotics has led the WHO to consider this bacterium a priority in biomedical research.
This scientific breakthrough has been carried out within the framework of the PYLOC collaborative project and has been possible thanks to the synergy between the area CIBER of Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) through the group of Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications (NanoB2A) of the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the area CIBER of Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), through the research team at Parc Taulí, formed by Xavier Calvet, Sergio Lario and Maria José Ramírez-Lázaro.
Limitations of current diagnostic methods
Current diagnostic methods include invasive tests such as histology, culture or rapid urease test, as well as non-invasive tests such as breath test or stool antigen detection. However, their reliability decreases in cases with low bacterial load, such as in patients treated with proton pump inhibitors or with chronic gastric disorders. Molecular techniques, such as digital PCR, offer high sensitivity, but require expensive and specialized equipment.
A new biosensor as an innovative alternative
Faced with these limitations, the CIBER-BBN and CIBEREHD research team has developed a biosensor that offers an effective alternative: it allows the rapid and quantitative detection of the bacteria without the need for marker reagents or complex equipment. Mitjançant l'Using specific antibodies against bacterial flagellin, the device has shown excellent performance in complex biological samples such as gastric mucosa and feces. Its efficacy has been validated with 40 clinical samples, achieving sensitivity and specificity comparable to standard techniques such as ELISA.
Clinical impact and utility in complex cases
The infection by H. pylori affects more than half of the world's population. Although in many cases it is asymptomatic, it can lead to serious complications. Diagnosis can be especially complicated in patients with low bacterial load, such as those treated with proton pump inhibitors or with chronic gastric disorders. "This new biosensor could be particularly useful in these contexts, facilitating clinical decision-making and avoiding treatment delays.", concludes the research team.
Leave a comment