Virus-detecting Magnets

The Financial Times of the U.K. reports that magnets could help scientists perform body scans to search for viruses. By injecting patients with particles of iron oxide only 50 nanometers across, scientists at the Harvard Medical School believe they can accurately detect the presence of viruses inside the body in less than half the time of conventional techniques.

The nanoparticles would be given a sticky coating of the sugar dextran to adhere a layer of antibodies for the viruses under investigation. These particles would be injected into the patient and any viruses present will stick to the antibodies to form a cluster of magnetic particles that could be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The technology would increase the accuracy of tests in half the usual time. Patients would undergo nothing more evasive than a quick injection and the iron nanoparticles would be harmless.

This magnetic virus detection technique could be available in hospitals within the next few years since most of the components have been used in human medicine.