[China Tech] Tiny Tear Sample for Rapid Diabetic Cataract Diagnosis

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Diabetic cataracts are a common diabetic complication. Precise diagnosis before surgery can reduce surgical risk and improve prognosis. However, testing and diagnosis require regular eye checks and fundus examinations, which often take 30 to 60 minutes.

Experts at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital created a diagnostic method that requires only 10nl tears to provide an accurate, non-invasive and rapid diagnosis.

Tears are an excellent source of noninvasive biomarkers. However, the quantity of natural tears is typically limited, as is the density of metabolites for testing, necessitating extremely high sensitivity requirements for testing technology.

Traditional technology necessitates big samples, complex processing, and extended analysis times. The minimal amount of tears produced naturally is insufficient to meet the high-throughput testing requirements.

The research team found a solution by establishing a high-efficiency nanometer particle-based platform that can use self-developed nanometer particles to increase metabolite signals by one to three levels while maintaining high throughput, sensitivity, and repeatability to meet tear testing requirements.

With this innovative method, the researchers presented 168 cataract patients and developed a testing model that requires only 10nl tears to reach over 80 percent sensitivity and specificity. Compared to previous testing procedures, such as fundus examination, the new technology allows for exact testing and diagnosis in minutes.

According to experts, the technology will evolve into a new tool for outpatient screening, allowing for early diagnosis, risk warning, and tailored treatment of diabetic cataracts.

The study was published in the world's leading publication, Nature Communications.