 |
|
Biosensor sniffs out explosives
May 09, 2007Temple University School of Medicine researchers have developed a new biosensor that sniffs out explosives and could one day be used to detect landmines and deadly agents, such as sarin gas, according to a paper in the June issue of Nature Chemical Biology.
To create the biosensor, Danny Dhanasekaran and colleagues genetically engineered a yeast strain with mammalian (rat) olfactory signaling machinery and genetically linked it to the expression of green fluorescent protein. Into these yeast cells, they cloned individual rat olfactory receptors. When the olfactory receptor "smells" the odor of DNT, an ingredient in the explosive TNT, the biosensor turns fluorescent green. The research team is the first to identify, clone and sequence this novel olfactory receptor.
"We suspected that harnessing the potential of the olfactory system, which can detect innumerable chemical agents with unparalleled sensitivity and selectivity, would be of immense value in the detection of environmental toxins and chemical warfare agents even at sublethal levels," said Dhanasekaran, Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Temple's Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology.
The research team is now perfecting the utility of the biosensor, for example, its response time, and believes that the potential therapeutic applications extend beyond the detection of chemical agents.
"With further genetic fine-tuning of the olfactory receptor pathway, this system could also be used to screen experimental medications, a crucial step in the development of new drugs," said Dhanasekaran.
Biosensors, which are made from natural ingredients, are preferable to man-made sensors, which can be expensive, cumbersome and inflexible. Dhanasekaran envisions that the biosensor will soon be incorporated into a handheld device or a remote device that can be left at a location and monitored from afar.
Temple University
The research team is now perfecting the utility of the biosensor, for example, its response time, and believes that the potential therapeutic applications extend beyond the detection of chemical agents.
"With further genetic fine-tuning of the olfactory receptor pathway, this system could also be used to screen experimental medications, a crucial step in the development of new drugs," said Dhanasekaran.
Biosensors, which are made from natural ingredients, are preferable to man-made sensors, which can be expensive, cumbersome and inflexible. Dhanasekaran envisions that the biosensor will soon be incorporated into a handheld device or a remote device that can be left at a location and monitored from afar.
Temple University
Biosensor Current Events and Biosensor News RSSHyper-SAGE boosts remote MRI sensitivity
A new technique in Magnetic Resonance Imaging dubbed "Hyper-SAGE" has the potential to detect ultra low concentrations of clincal targets, such as lung and other cancers.
Graphite mimics iron's magnetism
Researchers of Eindhoven University of Technology and the Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands show for the first time why ordinary graphite is a permanent magnet at room temperature.
New biosensor can detect bacteria instantaneously
A research group from the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona has developed a biosensor that can immediately detect very low levels of Salmonella typhi, the bacteria that causes typhoid fever.
New ultrasensitive electronic sensor array speeds up DNA detection
A novel electronic sensor array for more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA for disease diagnosis and biological research has been developed by scientists at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN).
Toxin detection as close as an inkjet printer
If that office inkjet printer has become just another fixture, it's time to take a fresh look at it. Similar technology may soon be used to develop paper-based biosensors that can detect certain harmful toxins that can cause food poisoning or be used as bioterrorism agents.
Material world: graphene's versatility promises new applications
Since its discovery just a few years ago, graphene has climbed to the top of the heap of new super-materials poised to transform the electronics and nanotechnology landscape.
Boston University biomedical engineers teach bacteria to count
Biomedical engineers at Boston University have taught bacteria how to count. Professor James J. Collins and colleagues have wired a new sequence of genes that allow the microbes to count discrete events, opening the door for a host of potential applications, which could include drug delivery and sensing environmental hazards.
A quicker, cheaper SARS virus detector -- one easily customizable for other targets
Members of a USC-led research team say they've made a big improvement in a new breed of electronic detectors for viruses and other biological materials - one that may be a valuable addition to the battle against epidemics.
Nanoneedle is small in size, but huge in applications
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a membrane-penetrating nanoneedle for the targeted delivery of one or more molecules into the cytoplasm or the nucleus of living cells.
NRL researchers report a forceful new method to sensitively detect proteins
Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) recently reported the detection of toxins with unprecedented speed, sensitivity, and simplicity. The approach can sense as few as a few hundred molecules in a drop of blood in less than 10 minutes, with only four simple steps from sample to answer.
More Biosensor Current Events and Biosensor News Articles
 |
Biosensors (The Practical Approach Series) by Jon Cooper (Editor), Tony Cass (Editor) Over the past 20 years, the field of biosensor research has had a significant impact in both laboratory research and the commercial sector. Over that period, biosensors have revolutionized the care and management of diabetes and have had important impacts in several other areas of clinical diagnostics. Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific have all seen the rise of small and medium sized companies seeking technical and application niches in the manufacture or use of biosensors. The current activity in both gene and protein 'biochips' can be seen as the latest set of tools that allow users who are not analytical science practitioners to make technically complex and reliable biological weapons and the need for their rapid and reliable detection will need to be met by devices that have... |
|
Biosensors : Modern Argus-Eyed Sentinels for Health and Environment (32 minute colour VHS video) (NTSC video) by Spektrum Videothek Produced in Germany. In English. "...explains what biosensors are, how they work, and how they are used in practice." | |
 |
Science Codex Technology by Science Codex Science Codex posts articles on the latest virtual reality, military, gaming, home and business use technology news from all over the world.Kindle blogs are fully downloaded onto your Kindle so you can read them even when you're not wirelessly connected. And unlike RSS readers which often only provide headlines, blogs on Kindle give you full text content and images, and are updated wirelessly throughout the day. |
 |
Night Sweat Alarm - Similar DIABETES watch sold outside US for HYPOGLYCEMIA - NO ONGOING COSTS by Giant Biosensor Limited Precision monitor wakes you at the first sign of perspiration or drop in skin temp. The Night Sweat Alarm is a device worn on the wrist or ankle that sounds an audible alarm and vibrates to wake those people who experience interrupted sleep due to drenching night sweats causing the need to constantly change sleepwear and sheets. It triggers an alert upon detecting either a drop in skin temperature or the presence of perspiration which is how the body regulates its temperature. Night sweats may be caused from a variety of factors. Your physician should always be consulted in cases of persistent night sweats. Features of the Night Sweat Alarm include a sleek, ergonomic design, replaceable battery, and comfortable adjustable elastic strap. Your purchase confidence... |
 |
Biosensors: Theory and Applications by Donald G. Buerk (Author) This introductory text covers in detail the technology and applications of biosensors in their many forms. It provides an extensive survey of the basic principles, functions and applications of different categories of biosensors. The pre-sentation is concise, systematic and well illustrated. Numer-ous schematics illustrate design and function.From the Author's IntroductionThis book is an overview of the basic theories of opera-tion for a number of specifi c types of biosensor transducers that have been investigated, with a general survey of some of the many applications using various biological elements that have been tested to date. A major portion of this book has been devoted to electrochemical transducers, since they have been most widely used.This best-selling text provides basic... |
 |
Nanomaterials for Biosensors (Nanotechnologies for the Life Sciences) by Challa S. S. R. Kumar (Editor) This volume combines the chemistry and materials science of nanomaterials and biomolecules with their detection strategies, sensor physics and device engineering. In so doing, it covers the important types of nanomaterials for sensory applications, namely carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, fluorescent and biological molecules, nanorods, nanowires and nanoparticles, dendrimers, and nanostructured silicon. It also illustrates a wide range of sensing principles, including fluorescence, nanocantilever oscillators, electrochemical detection, antibody-antigen interactions, and magnetic detection. |
 |
Medpage MP5 Bed Movement Alarm System - SIMPLE to use Monitor Detects Epilepsy Seizures and Transmit Alarm Signal to a Pager. by Medpage The Medpage MP5 has been in use since 1996. During this time the MP5 has helped thousands of caregivers and families detect nocturnal convulsive seizures resulting from excessive movement from a person in bed. The principle of operation is simple and reliable. Detected seizures are notified via a radio signal to a pager with a range of up to 100 Metres. The MP5 is used by hospitals, care homes and families worldwide for the detection of convulsive seizures and when used in accordance with the instructions for use will provide a fast response to on-going seizures of the Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal) type. The positions of the dials shown in the photograph represent an average setting for the detection of most convulsive seizures. Sensitivity of the bed sensor(s) can be increased to allow... |
 |
Hypoglycemia Symptoms Alarm - Diabetes watch - NO ONGOING COSTS by Giant Biosensor Detects two symptoms of hypoglycemia and awakens you during sleep. Not for sale in USA The Hypoglycemia Symptoms Alarm is a sleep monitor for symptoms of hypoglycemia. It's a device worn on the wrist or ankle that sounds an audible alarm and vibrates to wake those people with insulin dependent diabetes who suffer from nocturnal hypoglycemia (low blood sugar while sleeping) commonly referred to as an insulin reaction and either don't wake up, or don't wake up soon enough to take corrective action. It triggers an alert upon detecting the presence of perspiration or a decrease in skin temperature, two common symptoms associated with hypoglycemia. Features of the Hypoglycemia Symptoms Alarm include a sleek, ergonomic design and a comfortable adjustable elastic strap. Other than the... |
 |
Electrochemical Sensors, Biosensors and their Biomedical Applications by Xueji Zhang (Editor), Huangxian Ju (Editor), Joseph Wang (Editor) The central goal of this book is to broadly review the modem techniques and significant applications of chemical sensors and biosensors. Chapters are written by experts in the field - including Professor Joseph Wang, the most cited scientist in the world and renowned expert on sensor science who is also co-editor. Each chapter provides technical details beyond the level found in typical journal articles, and explores the application of chemical sensors and biosensors to a significant problem in biomedical science, also providing a prospectus for the future. This book compiles the expert knowledge of many specialists in the construction and use of chemical sensors and biosensors including nitric oxide sensors, glucose sensors, DNA sensors, hydrogen sulfide sensors, oxygen sensors,... |
 |
Label-Free Biosensors: Techniques and Applications by Matthew A. Cooper (Editor) Label-free biosensors are devices that use biological or chemical receptors to detect analytes (molecules) in a sample. They give detailed information on the selectivity, affinity, and, in many cases, also the binding kinetics and thermodynamics of an interaction. Although they can be powerful tools in the hands of a skilled user, there is often a lack of knowledge of the best methods for using label-free assays to screen for biologically active molecules and accurately and precisely characterize molecular recognition events. This book reviews both established and newer label-free techniques and is intended to give both the expert user and the general reader interested in the technologies and applications behind label-free an insight into the field from expert opinion leaders and... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |