A new advancement in mouth cancer diagnostics has been discovered: a biocompatible hydrogen gel that can be moulded into a lollipop-style solid. This innovation has garnered backing from Cancer Research UK and the Physical Sciences Research Council.
Dr. Ruchi Gupta and the University of Birmingham School of Chemistry have received support for their development, which involves a biocompatible hydrogen gel capable of concentrating and labeling proteins with a fluorescent marker (fluorescein isothiocyanate or FITC) in a single, straightforward step. The findings regarding the gel were published last year in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Analyst. The publication noted that the gel “demonstrated a concentration factor of 236 with a reference protein (streptavidin), and 50% of the proteins in the hydrogel were released after 100 seconds of exposure to UV light.”
What makes this biogel particularly intriguing is its ability to be shaped into a lollipop form for direct application on patients. This innovation offers alternatives to invasive and lengthier diagnostic procedures, depending on the preferences of medical professionals.
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