With this special technology, you will know within minutes whether you have monkeypox or not.

Optical Biosensor : After wreaking havoc in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the threat of monkeypox is now looming over the entire world. Its cases have also been reported in India and neighboring country Pakistan. On August 15, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared MPOX a public health emergency.

Till now, more than 20 thousand cases have been found worldwide, out of which about 537 people have died. To avoid Mpox, it is necessary to first identify it, with the help of which this virus can be defeated. Optical Biosensor is very helpful for this. Let us know about this technology…

Optical biosensor detects monkeypox

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Boston University have now created an optical biosensor that can rapidly detect the virus that causes monkeypox, Mpox.

This study was published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics on November 14, 2024. Since PCR test is expensive, it requires a laboratory. The result of which may take a week to arrive. Boston University Lab also developed optical biosensors to detect the viruses of Ebola hemorrhagic fever and Covid-19.

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How does an optical biosensor work?

The researchers incubated wound samples from a patient with monkeypox for a period of time with monoclonal monkeypox antibodies, which bind to proteins on the surface of the virus. The virus-antibody complexes were then transferred to tiny chambers on the surface of silicon chips on the sensor, which were treated to fix these nanoparticles.

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Blue light was simultaneously shone onto the chips, causing a slightly different reaction in the presence of the virus-antibody nanoparticles. A colorful camera was used to detect this tiny signal and count individual particles with high sensitivity. The biosensor assay easily distinguished Mpox samples from these other viruses in two minutes.

Symptoms of Monkeypox

red rashes on body

severe headache

pus pimples

difficulty swallowing

What to do to avoid MPOX

If you notice any symptoms, go to the doctor

avoid touching infected

get vaccinated

use mouthwash

use eyedrops