Method for early diagnosis of alzheimer's disease using phototransistor

Abstract

A method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease by detecting the presence of beta-amyloid in cells using a phototransistor device. Cells that potentially contain beta-amyloid are provided and labeled with a multi-protein that selectively binds to beta-amyloid if present and that includes streptavidin, biotin and polyethylene glycol connected in sequence with the streptavidin being bound to a magnetic bead and the polyethylene glycol being bound to the beta-amyloid, to provide labeled cells. A phototransistor device including a channel layer is provided and a difference in photocurrent determined corresponding to incident light measured before and after selectively fixing the labeled cells on a surface of the channel layer by applying an external magnetic field effective to attract the magnetic bead to the phototransistor device through a permanent magnet positioned below the channel. Any difference between the first and second photocurrents indicates the presence of, and optionally amount of, labeled beta-amyloid in the cells.