UTSA researchers embracing nanotechnology to accelerate diagnostics

University of Texas at San Antonio professors Anand Ramasubramanian and Jose Lopez-Ribot have developed a prototype nanochip that can be used to accelerate testing in drug delivery and diagnostics.
The chip uses high-throughput screening technology that allows researchers to test hundreds of thousands of small molecules simultaneously for specific characteristics.
Now that the prototype has been created, Ramasubramanian and Lopez-Ribot are testing large libraries of compounds for potential anti-fungal activity. Future applications may be useful to diagnose chlamydial infection and to screen potential breast cancer drug candidates. The professors have an eye toward successful technology commercialization.
Ramasubramanian teaches in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Lopez-Ribot teaches in the Department of Biology.