Endometriosis can now be detected five times more sensitively through a borophene-based test using menstrual blood.
- Borophene-based menstrual blood test detects endometriosis with five times more sensitivity
- The device works like a pregnancy test and can identify key protein HMGB1 in menstrual blood
- It may allow discreet home monitoring and reduce diagnostic delays up to 12 years
Almost 200 million people worldwide, including many children, live with endometriosis—a chronic condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. Although early detection and treatment can alleviate intense pain and prevent infertility, there is no single diagnostic test available at the point of care, despite the accessibility of the tissue involved (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Photoinduced Immobilization on Two-Dimensional Nano Borophene Spatially Orients Capture Antibody for Highly Sensitive Biological Interactions
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Penn State Professor Dipanjan Pan noted that menstrual blood, often dismissed and stigmatized as waste, could be used to detect early biological markers that may assist in diagnosing endometriosis. His team developed a prototype device capable of identifying HMGB1, a protein linked to the condition’s onset and development, in menstrual blood with 500% greater sensitivity than current laboratory methods.
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Detection Through Borophene-Based Device
Functions like a pregnancy test, the newly developed device uses a novel method to produce nanosheets from borophene, an atomically thin two-dimensional material. The team’s work, led by Pan, the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair Professor in Nanomedicine, was published on the cover of ACS Central Science.
Pan, who is also a professor of nuclear engineering and materials science and engineering, and associated with biomedical engineering and radiation oncology departments, highlighted the social stigma and limited affordability that hinder broader adoption of menstrual fluid-based diagnostics.
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Challenges with Current Diagnostic Techniques
Conventional diagnosis includes intravenous blood tests, imaging, and a thorough patient history, which are time-consuming and often delay diagnosis. One investigation involving 218 women in the United States revealed delays as long as 12 years before receiving a definitive diagnosis.
By using borophene, Pan emphasized that the team’s approach not only enhances diagnostic capability but also combats stigma surrounding menstruation while advancing health care for women.
Unique Properties of Borophene
Derived from boron, borophene shares some characteristics with graphene, a carbon-based two-dimensional material, but offers distinct advantages. According to Pan, borophene is both biocompatible and biodegradable, making it particularly useful in biomedical fields.
However, producing pure borophene has challenges. Traditional fabrication methods use harsh solvents like isopropyl alcohol, which can damage material quality and render it unsuitable for medical use.
Water-Based Synthesis and…
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