Researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed a groundbreaking diagnostic tool named LUCAS (Luminescence CAscade-based Sensor). This rapid, portable, and highly sensitive device can process complex biological samples with remarkable efficiency. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the study introduces LUCAS as a major advancement in the field of point-of-care diagnostics.
Stronger, Longer Bioluminescence Signals
LUCAS significantly improves upon existing diagnostic tools by generating 500 times stronger and eight times longer-lasting bioluminescence signals. This innovation addresses the major hurdles in detecting viruses within complex biological fluids.
“Developing diagnostics for infectious diseases is a massive challenge,” explained Dr. Hadi Shafiee, senior author and faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Imagine trying to find an HIV particle in human blood—it’s like locating an ice cube in a jelly-filled Olympic-sized pool while blindfolded.”
Why Bioluminescence Matters
Bioluminescence, the same natural process that makes fireflies glow, is at the heart of LUCAS. Traditional bioluminescent assays rely on luciferase, an enzyme that reacts with luciferin to emit light. However, this reaction often produces a light signal that is too weak and short-lived for reliable diagnostics.
LUCAS changes this by adding a clever step to the process. The researchers included an enzyme called beta-galactosidase, which binds to luciferin and slowly releases it over time. This steady release triggers repeated luciferase reactions, amplifying the light signal and making it last longer.
As a result, LUCAS delivers 515 times more bioluminescence than conventional systems and maintains 96% signal strength even after an hour.
Rapid, Accurate, and Versatile Testing
To test LUCAS, the team analyzed 307 patient samples infected with SARS-CoV-2, HIV, HBV, or HCV. Samples included nasopharyngeal swabs and blood draws. Remarkably, LUCAS delivered results in just 23 minutes with an average diagnostic accuracy of over 94%.
Designed for Accessibility and Future Applications
Beyond its technical power, the team designed LUCAS to be portable and user-friendly, making it ideal for both high- and low-resource settings. This flexibility could prove essential in public health responses, especially in underserved regions.
As reported by medicalxpress, the researchers now plan to test LUCAS with other biological fluids and explore its ability to detect multiple pathogens simultaneously. Dr. Shafiee also emphasized its potential in broader diagnostics: “As we uncover new biomarkers for diseases like Alzheimer’s, LUCAS could become a go-to platform for early detection.”
A New Era for Early Detection and Personalized Care
“With LUCAS, we aim to make diagnostics more sensitive, accurate, and accessible,” said first author Dr. Sungwan Kim. “Our goal is to simplify early disease detection and bring personalized healthcare to the next level.”
As healthcare continues shifting toward proactive and precision-based care, tools like LUCAS represent a significant step toward faster, earlier, and more equitable diagnosis worldwide.