Alz-BioSs™: A New, Small Blood Volume, Hand-Held Bio-Sensor for detecting Alzheimer's Biomarkers Levels using Colorimetry

Nearly 44 million worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's. Diagnosing Alzheimer's and monitoring progression is key to treatment. Recently, blood Methyl-GlyOxal (MGO) levels were found to increase when patients develop Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's. Presently, no portable device measuring MGO exists. This work has designed a fast, accurate, hand-held colorimetric biosensor - akin to glucometers - called Alz-Bio-Ss\texttrademark [1]. The Alz-BioSs$^{\mathrm{TM}}$ device consists of three components. First, a disposable collection micro-fluidic strip separates plasma from a drop of blood.~ Second, plasma MGO reacts with two reagents, o-phenylene-diamine and citrate-capped gold nanoparticles. Third, a handheld colorimeter detects and quantifies MGO concentrations via photo-absorption from 500-700 nm LED emission and photodiodes. Alz-Bio-Ss\texttrademark can diagnose AD quickly and cheaply, unlike current methods such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis and brain imaging methods. It can diagnose MCI, not just Alzheimer's, allowing for early intervention to slow and possibly halt disease progression into full-fledged Alzheimer's. [1] Swaminathan, Herbots et al. Inter. {\&} US Pat. Pend. (2020)