ScienceMore in Science→
Magnetic Nanoparticles Detect Amoxicillin Allergy With 98% Sensitivity
Key Takeaways
- University of Malaga researchers developed an in vitro diagnostic platform using 30 nm magnetic nanoparticles with an iron oxide core and silica shell to detect beta-lactam antibiotic allergy, including amoxicillin.
- The platform captured IgE antibodies responsible for allergy far more readily than conventional methods, achieving about 98% sensitivity in early tests while reducing false negatives and false positives.
- Penicillin allergy is heavily overdiagnosed: 8-25% of people report being allergic, but only 1-10% truly are, leading to use of less effective, more toxic alternatives and fueling bacterial resistance.
- The blood-based method avoids drug provocation testing, which carries risk because it deliberately exposes patients to a potential allergen.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via phys.org