Could nanodiamonds help enable earlier disease detection?

Results of a proof-of-concept study, led by researchers at University College London (UK), suggest that the sensitivity of paper-based, lateral flow diagnostic tests could be improved by exploiting the quantum-sensing capabilities of fluorescent nanodiamonds, which could potentially enable earlier detection of viruses including HIV. Paper-based, lateral flow tests detect the presence of viral proteins or DNA in fluid samples in which a small strip of paper is soaked; presence of the biomarker of interest is indicated by a color change or fluorescent signal. The tests widely make use of gold nanoparticles to detect the biomarkers and can be used to...