Nanofibrillar Cellulose Film Platform to Support Medical Testing

A durable and affordable nanofibrillar cellulose-film platform will support medical testing. The new environmentally friendly, reliable nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) platforms are more diverse than plastic films.

A platform is coated with the new film in the factory. The film is injected with substances that will react to the tested substance. At the place of testing, blood, water or another test material will be applied on to the film. The antibody injected onto the film will absorb the sample, depending on whether it contains substances causing allergic reactions, or bacteria, for example. Then the test result is visualized with the help of color-changing chemistry, for example.

The new films can be hydrophobic or hydrophilic and the electric charge can be changed, which will improve the possibilities of conducting thousands of different medical tests at home or in physicians’ offices instead of waiting for results from laboratories.

Previous attempts to produce a nanofibrillar cellulose platform failed when the porous plate absorbed part of the sample. Now scientists developed a method of producing a waterproof nanofibrillar cellulose gel that will not absorb samples. They have also made great efforts to ensure sufficient film durability.

Doctoral candidate Hannes Orelma at Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland), where the nanofibrillar cellulose film platform was developed said, "Thanks to the new film various tests can be conducted faster without compromising reliability. It will now be easier to detect microbes that cause illnesses in the physician’s office, or to monitor allergens at home. In addition to medical diagnostics, the film can be utilized to study water purity, for example."

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Aalto University