| 摘要 |
<p>The application is directed to apparatus and methods for detecting iron containing proteins, eg. ferritin, transferrin etc., in bodily fluids, eg. whole blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), using a magneto-optic technique, especially based on the Cotton-Mouton effect. These proteins serve as sensitive biomarkers for disruption of iron homeostasis and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS etc. In one embodiment, an apparatus for transmission measurements (10) comprises a light source (12), a polariser (14), and a sample cell (16) for containing a liquid sample under analysis. A photodetector (18) is positioned near the rear face of the cell to detect light transmitted through the cell. The output of the detector is analysed by a computer or microprocessor (20) as a function of a modulating magnet field generated by magnet (22).</p> |
