New compounds send out light signals when they trap substances in the blood

Scientists from the University of Belfast, whose research is now used as the scientific basis for blood diagnostic equipment, made another discovery. The lead researcher of this study calls them "smart" compounds

The discovery is based on previous groundbreaking research carried out by Professor A. Prasanna de Silva and his colleagues from the University of Belfast, who produced "catch and tell" sensing compounds that send out light signals as soon as they capture certain substances in the blood.

This technology helped produce diagnostic equipment for blood samples whose sales reach a volume of 50 million dollars worldwide. The equipment, used in hospitals, ambulances and veterinary clinics, is used to quickly diagnose the levels of common salts in blood samples, such as sodium, potassium and calcium.

Now, the expansion of that design has led to the creation of compounds that can be used as simple "logic gates" - more complex versions of which are the basis of common computers.

Some of the compound produced at the University of Belfast is able to add small numbers, while another type, developed by their American colleagues, is able to play games such as "X-Circle" and beat a human contestant. Additional findings from the research team indicate that they can also be used as identification tags for very small objects, even the size of a biological cell.

Explaining how the new discovery can be used, Professor de Silva, Head of the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Belfast, says: "Until now, our fluorescent sensor technology has been used in blood diagnostics all over the world. If, for example, a car accident occurs and you need a blood transfusion, the ambulance team in the field is able to diagnose your blood type at the scene itself and ask the emergency room to prepare blood transfusions of the appropriate type and with the exact salt levels, so that they will be ready for your treatment the moment you arrive at the hospital."

Now, we have expanded our sensor design and discovered additional possible uses. Such a use could be an identification tag for cells in an epidemic situation, such as an outbreak of bird flu. Our sensing compounds will be able to selectively point out, from a large crowd, only those people infected with the particular disease.

"In addition, since logic gates are the basis of existing computers, molecular versions of these gates open up very interesting possibilities. The identification tags are the first example of these applications of logic gates that can solve problems that today's computerized devices are not capable of. Another possible use is a "lab-on-compound" system that combines several laboratory tests for diagnosis without human intervention.

"It is fascinating to think that these tiny compounds are able to perform small-scale calculation operations in volumes that semiconductors cannot reach, despite their advantages," says the lead researcher.

The University of Belfast press release