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

As tagged by Meridian Institute:

Related Forums:

NDN Home

Manage Subscription

Search News Archives

Nanotechnology Quintuples Heating Capacity of Solar Water Heaters -- Renewable Energy Magazine (9/1/2010) Researchers at the University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, have developed a solar heating system that uses nanotechnology to heat water to five times the temperature of a conventional system, while also permitting the collector surface area to retain up to 98 percent of heat from solar radiation. [More]

Pakistan's Science Minister Attacks Funding Cuts -- SciDev.Net (9/1/2010) The Pakistan government has cuts its funds for the Pakistan Ministry of Science and Technology's 2010-2011 budget by almost half, causing the science minister, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, to criticize his own government. [More]

Nanotechnology: Small wonders -- Nature (9/1/2010) This article takes an in-depth look at the United States National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)'s first 10 years - to find out where the money went and what the initiative plans to do next. [More]

Nanotech on Farmers' Fields -- Silicon Nutrition (8/31/2010) A plant nutrition study that addresses nano-sized plant nutrients is now available from the Landbouwkundige Uitgeverij G.C. van den Berg (Veenendaal, The Netherlands). [More]

More News...

Learn how to include these headlines on your own website by clicking here.

Please email us if you require text-only versions of the daily emails.








our team contact us site map	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 Related Forums: Health and Medical Metals and Minerals Economic Competitiveness Governance print format	NDN Home Subscribe Manage Subscription Search News Archives Nanotechnology Quintuples Heating Capacity of Solar Water Heaters -- Renewable Energy Magazine (9/1/2010) Researchers at the University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, have developed a solar heating system that uses nanotechnology to heat water to five times the temperature of a conventional system, while also permitting the collector surface area to retain up to 98 percent of heat from solar radiation. [More] Pakistan's Science Minister Attacks Funding Cuts -- SciDev.Net (9/1/2010) The Pakistan government has cuts its funds for the Pakistan Ministry of Science and Technology's 2010-2011 budget by almost half, causing the science minister, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, to criticize his own government. [More] Nanotechnology: Small wonders -- Nature (9/1/2010) This article takes an in-depth look at the United States National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)'s first 10 years - to find out where the money went and what the initiative plans to do next. [More] Nanotech on Farmers' Fields -- Silicon Nutrition (8/31/2010) A plant nutrition study that addresses nano-sized plant nutrients is now available from the Landbouwkundige Uitgeverij G.C. van den Berg (Veenendaal, The Netherlands). [More] More News... Learn how to include these headlines on your own website by clicking here. Please email us if you require text-only versions of the daily emails.