A Quicker, Cheaper SARS Virus Detector Benefits from Advances in Nanodesign
Summary posted by Meridian on 5/29/2009
Source: Nanowerk
Author: n/a
Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC), United States, are using nanotechnology to improve a new breed of electronic detectors for viruses and other biological materials. Their product, which they say may be a valuable addition to the battle against epidemics, consists of a piece of synthetic antibody attached to a nanowire, that is attached to an electrical base, immersed in liquid. A sharply measurable jump in current through the nanowire will be created if the protein the antibody binds to is present in the liquid. The nanowire used is fabricated of indium oxide, unlike other similar products that use silicon or other materials, allowing the USC device to detect its target molecules with a sensitivity as great as the best alternative products, but more rapidly, potentially more cheaply, and without the use of chemical reagents. The USC team, led by Zhongwu Chou and Mark Thompson, said "[W]e believe that nanowire bisensor devices functionalized with engineered proteins … can have important applications ranging from disease diagnosis to homeland security." The research team plans to improve the device in order to enable detection in a more complex environment, such as Serum and whole blood, by integrating the nanobiosensor with micro systems such as microfluidics chips and micro filters. The article can be viewed online at the link below
The original article may still be available at www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=10908.php
As tagged by Meridian Institute:
Health And Medical:
Diagnostics, Devices, Diseases
Implications:
Human Enhancement, Military Applications, Governance, Economic Competitiveness
Nanomaterials:
Metal Nanoparticle
Regions:
North America
Stakeholders:
Government, Industry, Academia
Minerals And Metals:
Metals
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