Innovative Palm-Sized Diagnostic Device Identifies Disease Markers in Under 45 Minutes Without Lab Equipment

Scientists from the National University of Singapore have introduced NAPTUNE (Nucleic Acids and Protein biomarkers Testing via Ultra-sensitive Nucleases Escalation), a groundbreaking point-of-care diagnostic tool capable of detecting minute levels of disease-related genetic material, including nucleic acids and proteins, in less than 45 minutes. Remarkably, this device operates without the need for traditional laboratory equipment or complex procedures, making it ideal for rapid medical testing in diverse settings.

NAPTUNE simplifies molecular diagnostics by replacing conventional bulky amplification steps, such as PCR, with a two-enzyme cascade system. This system directly converts biological signals into easily detectable DNA fragments, significantly streamlining the diagnostic process. The core of the technology involves a two-stage enzymatic relay: the human DNA-repair enzyme APE1 recognizes engineered abasic sites in a DNA duplex, releasing DNA guides that activate the enzyme PfAgo. This second-stage enzyme cleaves specific probes, releasing fluorescent signals that increase proportionally with target concentration, achieving detection sensitivity down to the attomolar level—surpassing traditional methods.

The platform has been miniaturized into a portable, disposable setup controlled by a battery-powered heater and Bluetooth-enabled fluorescence reader weighing less than 200 grams. This mobile device allows real-time data streaming to a smartphone app, enabling on-site virus screening, rapid clinical diagnostics, and decentralized cancer monitoring.

The innovative approach addresses the limitations of traditional PCR and immunoassays, which often require extensive processing time, specialized equipment, and trained personnel. By harnessing naturally occurring nucleases in a tandem cascade, NAPTUNE offers rapid, highly sensitive detection suitable for low-resource environments.

Published in "Nature Communications" on February 4, 2025, the research was led by Assistant Professor Chunyi Hu, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Jinan and Lingang Laboratory in China. The team is currently validating NAPTUNE's effectiveness for tuberculosis detection and environmental surveillance, and plans to develop lyophilized reagent kits for tropical climates and expand detection modalities.

This portable, amplification-free diagnostic technology holds promise for transforming point-of-care testing, enabling immediate health assessments in community settings and resource-limited regions, paving the way for more accessible and faster disease detection.