200. Nanotechnology for Fentanyl detection | Dr. Shalini Prasad200. Nanotechnology for Fentanyl detection | Dr. Shalini Prasad
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
Fentanyl is the public health crisis of our times with 300 deaths a day from drugs, 60% driven by fentanyl. It is a humanitarian crisis. Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction. Quick fentanyl detection is important, and nanotechnology is playing a big role. Dr. Shalini Prasad’s research focuses on designing miniature cellular and molecular platforms, with the goal of creating faster and more affordable clinical diagnostics. She is currently a Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology and a professor in the Department of Bioengineering. She also holds an adjunct appointment as professor in the Department of Physics at Portland State University. Prasad is the director of the Biomedical Microdevices and Nanotechnology Lab, which has supported 22 graduate researchers and 30 undergraduate researchers over the last eight years. Her multi-disciplinary work includes the engineering of multi-functional nanomaterials for designing portable devices and platforms for cellular and molecular diagnostics. Her research improves devices for faster, more affordable and accurate diagnosis of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Prasad earned her doctoral degree in electrical engineering in 2004 from the University of California, Riverside. Her multidisciplinary research work won her the graduate student research award in 2004. From 2005 to 2008, she worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Portland State University and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Oregon Health Sciences University. From 2008 to 2010, she worked as a research assistant professor and a content expert in the area of organic/inorganic interfaces for the Arizona State University node of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network and ASU’s Center for Solid State Electronics Research. From 2010 to 2011, she was an associate professor at Wichita State University in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Bomhoff Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering. Prasad’s research work has been supported by a number of federal and state agencies as well as corporate entities. She has more than 30 peer-reviewed journal publications and is the recipient of a number of awards in the area of nano-biotechnology.
1:01:43•21 Oct 2024
Nanotechnology: A New Hope for Fentanyl Detection
Episode Overview
- Fentanyl is a major public health crisis, causing 300 deaths daily.
- Dr. Shalini Prasad's research focuses on nanotechnology for faster, affordable drug detection.
- Innovations include detecting drugs in urine, blood, saliva, and air.
- Accessible and affordable diagnostics are crucial for widespread use.
- Potential applications extend beyond fentanyl to other harmful substances.
“Fentanyl is already a weapon of mass destruction today. It's a slow and steady killer.”
Fentanyl has become a major public health crisis, claiming 300 lives daily, with 60% of these deaths driven by fentanyl. In this episode of 'High Truths on Drugs and Addiction,' Dr. Roneet Lev sits down with Dr. Shalini Prasad, an expert in nanotechnology, to discuss groundbreaking methods for detecting this deadly substance. Dr. Prasad's work focuses on creating miniature cellular and molecular platforms that make clinical diagnostics faster and more affordable.
This research could be a game-changer in the battle against fentanyl and other drugs. Dr. Prasad shares her journey from electrical engineering to biomedical applications, highlighting her work on sensors that can detect drugs in various mediums like urine, blood, saliva, and even the air. She also touches on the importance of making these technologies accessible and affordable for widespread use. With a mix of personal anecdotes and professional insights, Dr.
Prasad explains how these innovations could help save lives by providing quicker and more accurate drug detection. The conversation also delves into the broader implications of her research, including potential applications in detecting other harmful substances and improving public health. Dr. Lev and Dr. Prasad's discussion is not just informative but also inspiring, offering hope for a future where technology can significantly mitigate the fentanyl crisis.
Tune in to understand how nanotechnology could be the key to faster, more effective drug detection and what it means for public health.
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