New biosensor can improve food, water, security, even early detection

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Based a nanotechnology biosensor of Kansas State University researchers allow developed, early detection of both cancer cells and organisms, which reduces to increased food safety and health risks.

Lateef Syed, Ph.d. student in chemistry, Hyderabad, India, developed biosensor with Jun Li, an associate professor of chemistry. Their research focuses on E. coli, but Syed said that the same technology could detect other types of pathogenic salmonella and viruses.

"Kansas is a leading State in meat production and the poultry industry," he said. "Any outbreak of disease in these industries caused large financial losses and a lot of health risks." "We want to see to prevent these outbreaks at an early stage by pathogens."

Syed of recent research poster, "Dielectrophoretic capture of E. coli with Nanoelectrode arrays," was a winner at the recent Capitol graduate research named Summit in Topeka. An article about this work was accepted for publication in the journal electrophoresis.

For more than three and a half years focused on nanotechnology based biosensors for pathogen detection and early detection biomarker develop Syed's research. He began the research as a doctoral student under the direction of Li, nanotechnology has researched for 15 years.

"Nanotechnology is a very exciting area," said Li. "It is really the opportunity to solve problems for health and food safety." "It can for the environment and energy issues helpful."

The project is a continuation of the Li where he spent seven years developing nanotechnology, NASA Ames Research Center in California, running. While working in California, Li came up with the idea to capture a small chips and detect pathogens to develop.

As Li K State in 2007, he reached the biosensor research further with Syed. Collaborate on the development of biosensors for diagnosis and pathogens, are early detection. This bio-sensors develop, used the team nanofibers or CNFs carbon, because they can build an array of small electrodes, which is still smaller than bacteria and viruses. If these microbial particles at the electrode surface are recorded, an electrical signal can be detected.

"A goal is, integrate this technology into an electronic handheld device for pathogen detection, so that we can use this device for in-line monitoring of water quality or food quality on industrial processing sites," Syed said. "We have some preliminary results, that this technology is feasible, and I am very happy that specify."

The project will be by a Canadian company called early warning Inc., the K-State research team with $240,000 supports for two years as part of the development of the key indicator. Recently it was also of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of excellence for new occurring and zoonoses, animal, or CEEZAD, at the K-State support.

"We are still working with the company and finally try this product for the market for the monitoring of the feed supply water quality," said Li. "she does not want that drink contaminated water and ill before you can do anything." This research can very useful in the future be, as it can be applied in the very early stages, before an outbreak is spreading.

"Nanotechnology is a diverse field, and includes such biosensor devices that we can develop in the lab at the University," he said. "As long as we look for these opportunities, we can create something that is useful for Kansas and people living here."

Source:
Jun Li
Kansas State University