Patent Pending
Endocrine disrupting compounds are found in increasing
amounts in our environment, originating from pesticides, plasticizers, and
pharmaceuticals, among other sources. These compounds have been implicated in
diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The list of chemicals that
disrupt normal hormone function is growing at an alarming rate, making it
crucially important to find sources of contamination and identify new compounds
that display this ability. However, there is currently no broad-spectrum, rapid
test for these compounds, as they are difficult to monitor because of their
high potency and chemical dissimilarity.
To address this, UC Berkeley researchers have developed a
new detection system and method for the sensitive detection of trace compounds
using electrochemical methods. This
platform is both fast and portable, and it requires no specialized skills to
perform. This system enables both the detection of many detrimental compounds
and signal amplification from impedance measurements due to the binding of
bacteria to a modified electrode. The researchers were able to test the system
finding sub-ppb levels of estradiol and ppm levels of bisphenol A in complex
solutions. This approach should be broadly applicable to the detection of
chemically diverse classes of compounds that bind to a single receptor.
Quantifying Hormone Disruptors with an Engineered Bacterial Biosensor
Diagnostic, assay, sandwich assay, EDC, endocrine