Researchers at McMaster University have developed a prototype that could lead to a commercial product in the next few years which helps doctors and scientists in the field quickly detect certain types of cancer or bacterial and respiratory infections or monitor toxin levels in water.

The new paper-based technology builds on prior work by the same team. In 2012 they used specialized inkjet printers to produce paper strips that change color in the presence of E. coli. The strips detected a particular enzyme inside the bacteria and so were limited to only that one use.

The new technology is far more versatile. Like its predecessor, it can detect E. coli, but it can also identify other bacteria such as Salmonella and Clostridium difficile. Its versatility comes from a change in underlying technology. The new strips use small man-made DNA molecules called DNA aptamers. According to McMaster's Biointerfaces Institute director John Brennan, these aptamers can bind to virtually any target (not only small molecules but also proteins and cells).