Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Bioengineering have developed a novel, high-sensitivity chemiluminescence vertical flow assay for rapid cardiac diagnostics, addressing current challenges in both modern and underserved healthcare settings.
Background:
Point-of-care (POC) testing is performed near or at the location of the patient, making it especially important for underserved healthcare settings. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the current leading global cause of death, accounting for 17.9 million deaths a year. While common in developed countries, CVDs often go undiagnosed in underserved regions due to limited resources. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a protein in the heart muscle, is released when the heart is damaged. A common method of diagnosing CVDs is to test for elevated cardiac troponin levels (10-40 pg/mL). The golden standard for cardiac diagnostics, high-sensitivity cTnI (hs-cTnI) assays, can facilitate the detection of cTnI at trace levels (down to pg/mL). The key issue is that hs-cTnI assays are mainly available in centralized hospitals which require skilled personnel, special equipment, and ample space. Often, these limitations are too costly and make hs-cTnI assays inaccessible in underserved regions. Current POC methods require innovations to match the high-sensitivity detection of hs-cTnI assays. Thus, there is an unmet need for a rapid, accurate and cost-effective hs-cTnI assay to meet the needs of underserved communities and laboratories.
Innovation:
To address these limitations, UCLA researchers developed a chemiluminescence vertical flow assay (CL-VFA) with high-sensitivity detection of cTnI, bridging the gap between current POC methods and hs-cTnI assays. Utilizing deep learning, this novel CL-VFA enables rapid detection in under 30 minutes and features a smaller physical footprint compared to hs-cTnI assays. The combination of high-sensitivity POC detection, compactness, and a total system cost of around $200 or less highlights the invention’s potential in underserved regions, paving the way for early CVD detection and mitigation.
Potential Applications:
• cTnI testing
• Cancer detection
• Pathogen detection
• Sepsis biomarker sensing
• Therapeutic drug monitoring
Advantages:
• High-sensitivity detection
• Low cost
• Lapid results
• Compactness
• Requires fewer infrastructural resources
• Accessibility for underserved regions
Development-To-Date:
Researchers have completed successful demonstrations and conducted cost-analysis.
Related Papers:
Han, Gyeo-Re, et al. “Deep Learning-Enhanced Chemiluminescence Vertical Flow Assay for High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Testing.” Small, 5 Feb. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202411585.
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2025-128
Lead Inventor:
Aydogan Ozcan