Mini Bio-Devices Could Help TB Patients Stick to Their Treatments TC_Africa: SouthAfrica
Building on the sequencing of the human genome and improved technologies to determine individual genetic variations, there has been a growing movement towards personalised or precision medicine and
The results from my tests are promising. They reflect what other scholars doing similar experiments around the world show: these enzymatic biosensors could soon become a crucial weapon in efforts to make it easier for TB patients to adhere to their treatments.One element of my work is to determine the right enzyme, already present in the human body, to include in the biosensor and serve as an amplifier or enhancer.
Biosensors are typically made up of an electronic part, namely the transducer, that converts energy from one form to another; and a biological element such as an enzyme or even an antibody that acts as the sensor. My go-to enzyme is called CYP3A4. It forms part of a group of enzymes named cytochrome 450 or CYP450, which are known to play a key part in the- and not just TB drugs. Because these enzymes react with 50% of all prescribed medication, they serve as a useful detector of the drug's presence in a sample.