"Rapid Pathogen Detection Enabled by Magnetic Beads' Optical Signal"
Researchers at MIT have discovered that Dynabeads, antibody-coated superparamagnetic beads, have a strong Raman signature that can be used to quickly detect pathogens in various diagnostic tests. By using Raman spectroscopy, the researchers were able to confirm the presence of Dynabead-bound pathogens within less than an hour, providing a rapid and reliable method for detecting contaminants such as Salmonella. The team is now working on developing a portable device for detecting bacterial pathogens, which could have significant applications in healthcare and resource-limited environments.