Towards an inexpensive sensor technology for disease detection in developing countries

The diagnosis of diseases in developing countries remains a significant challenge. Here, we report on the design and development of a novel diagnostic device for use in the developing world. Patient diagnosis will be based on urine samples analysed by low cost chemiresistor sensor arrays to generate a metabolomic profile with mobile phone technology being utilised as the user interface for the healthcare worker. Gold nanoparticle chemiresistor sensor technology is showing great promise for disease detection capabilities within this device framework. Preliminary results indicate that an array of different chemiresistors is able to discriminate between synthetic models representing the difference between healthy and TB infected urine.