Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurogenerative disorders that affect 5,000 people in the U.S. each year. Huntington’s disease (HD) is another progressive...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurogenerative disorders that affect 5,000 people in the U.S. each year. Huntington’s disease (HD) is another progressive and fatal neurogenerative disorder that affects nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. Both of these neurodegenerative disorders are associated with abnormal protein accumulation, such as SOD1 and HTT. CRISPR-Cas13 targets the genes of interest (i.e., SOD1 and HTT) and ultimately reduces the gene expression that are related to ALS and HD. Previous CRISPR technologies often use the Cas9 enzyme, which presents multiple problems with ease of delivery, size, and potential genomic damage to cells. Cas13 is smaller in size, making it easier to deliver. Furthermore, Cas13 targets the RNA—not the DNA, which means Cas13 downregulates gene expression without having to change the DNA sequence.
Prof. Yurii Vlasov and Christopher Kenji Brenden from the University of Illinois have designed an electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting small concentrations of...
Prof. Yurii Vlasov and Christopher Kenji Brenden from the University of Illinois have designed an electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting small concentrations of neurochemicals in vivo with high spatiotemporal resolution.
The probe design include a thin-layer design with microfluidic channels to decrease probe size and improve the voltage-current response from electroactive biomolecules. Electrodes are placed within the microfluidic channels of the cell to prevent degradation of electrode surfaces by immune responses and attack by biological agents.
Valve-free flow switching allows for in situ regeneration and calibration of the probe electrodes without removing the probe from the target biological tissue. This allows for longer measurements periods without experience large drift in electrochemical signals.
