14 BiOtEchnOLOgy
Biosensors could detect poisons
or proteins in blood samples
Biosensors, says Sean
Ottewell, are about to
take a huge leap forward
A
fundamental science discovery structure undisturbed.
made by UK, Belgian and US This is distinctly different to how both
research groups has resulted in tiny structures scatter light separately. This decrease
new sensor structures that could be in the interaction with light is in turn affected by
in sensitivity following
used in highly-sensitive biosensors. the composition of molecules in close proximity
research successes both
The novel nanosensors could be tailor-made to the structures. The researchers hope that
in Europe and the USA.
to instantly detect the presence of particular this effect can be harnessed to produce sensor
molecules, for example poisons or proteins in devices.
Les biocapteurs, indique
patients’ blood samples, with high sensitivity. Lead researcher on the project is professor
Sean Ottewell, sont sur le
The researchers were led by Imperial College Stefan Maier from Imperial’s department of
point de faire un énorme London physicists funded by the Engineering and physics, who is also an associate of Imperial’s
bond en avant en termes
Physical Sciences Research Council. The team Institute for Security Science and Technology. He
de sensibilité grâce aux
showed that by putting together two specific said: “Pairing up these structures has a unique
recherches menées à bien
nanostructures made of gold or silver, they can effect on the way they scatter light – an effect
à la fois en Europe et aux
make an early prototype device which, once which could be very useful if, as our computer
États-Unis.
optimised, should exhibit a highly sensitive ability simulations suggest, it is extremely sensitive
to detect particular chemicals in the immediate to changes in surrounding environment. With
Laut Sean Ottewell ist man
surroundings. further testing we hope to show that it is possible
nach Forschungserfolgen The nanostructures are each about 500 times to harness this property to make a highly
in Europa und den smaller than the width of a human hair. One is sensitive nanosensor.”
USA kurz davor, die
shaped like a flat circular disk while the other Metal nanostructures have been used as
Empfindlichkeit von
looks like a doughnut with a hole in the middle. sensors before, as they interact very strongly
Biosensoren einen großen
When brought together they interact with light with light due to so-called localised plasmon
Schritt nach vorn zu
bringen.
very differently to the way they behave on their resonances. But this is the first time a pair with
own. The scientists have observed that when such a carefully tailored interaction with light has
they are paired up they scatter some specific been created.
colours within white light much less, leading to The device could be tailored to detect different
an increased amount of light passing through the chemicals by decorating the nanostructure
Fig. 1. Aptamers are capable of detecting certain organic substances, such as undesirable
pharmaceutical residues, that enter the environment through wastewater.
www.scientistlive.com
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