DNA-analyzing Smartphone tackles drugs resistance

The scientists have developed a DNA-analyzing Smartphone that costs just as much a lab-based kit could. The phone-powered pathology microscope could be built in just $500 (£406) a unit or less. The new technology would help doctors treat tuberculosis, cancer and other diseases more successfully. But the competition for advanced and cheap alternative development is on.

The DNA-analyzing Smartphone is a creation of Stockholm University, Uppsala University and the University of California. It has a microscope that is 3D printed. It could help in examining the tissue samples without sending them to remote laboratories. The phone uses the DNA information for diagnosis of drug resistance. For example in cancer patients, the tumor mutation confer resistance to drugs and infectious diagnostics to detect whether the bacteria or virus causes the resistance.

The device has a container in which the samples is put and scanned by a special lens attached to the phone’s camera. The image is generated when the two laser diodes and white LED light beam into the prefixed sample sequence. The Nokia Lumia 1020 based on its picture quality was used but the equipment can adapt to new smartphones.

In India, tuberculosis treatment can become easier and early stage detection is possible before its spreading by a cost-effective DNA test. The tech can be used in developing and developed nations. The cure for cancer patients is possible using the phone technology but further development is required to make it accurate and reliable.

The Oxford Nanopore Technologies handheld long sequence DNA analyzer along with nanopore-based electronic devices can create competition for the new technology.