Objective:

To develop a rapid blood test for diagnosing heart attacks using a plasmonic metasurface and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Approach:

• Technology Development: A metasurface-enhanced chip was created to amplify signals for detecting cardiac biomarkers in blood samples.
• Biomarker Detection: The system detects key biomarkers like CK-MB, Mb, and cTnI in 5–7 minutes, significantly faster than traditional methods.
• Signal Measurement: The technology tracks frequency shifts in the SERS signal to accurately measure multiple biomarkers simultaneously.

Key Findings:

• The new test can diagnose heart attacks in 5–7 minutes.
• It detects biomarkers at ultra-low concentrations with high sensitivity.
• The approach mitigates signal fluctuations common in traditional SERS methods.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• Further refinement of the device is needed.
• Clinical trials must be expanded to evaluate performance across diverse patient populations.

Conclusion:

Sources:

• Johns Hopkins University