[China Instrument Network Instrument Development] Russian scientists have developed a new laser technology for creating novel optical biosensors that can identify infectious diseases in seconds. The device displays harmful bacteria and viruses through infrared light, and can be widely used in large transportation hubs such as airports and the like that constantly monitor a large number of passengers. The study was published in the journal Laser Physics Express.
The sensor is fabricated from a regular micro-perforated silver nano-film deposited on a transparent substrate supported by natural mineral fluorspar. Samples of biological material, such as scraped nasal mucosa, are placed on the membrane. The film was then exposed to the infrared light of an infrared spectrometer in an ordinary laboratory. By capturing the spectra through the sample, researchers can infer the presence of specific bacteria or viruses.
In order to prove that the new bio-sensing platform can detect pathogenic microorganisms immediately, scientists have used a common bacteria to conduct experiments with Staphylococcus aureus.
This kind of rapid analysis may be widely used in large transport hubs, such as airports where there is a need to continuously monitor the health of the circulating passengers. At present, this is achieved by tracking the body temperature with a thermal imaging camera. A fevered passenger may be a potential source of infection. In this case, a clear analysis is necessary to identify whether the person is actually ill or what else. The use of existing methods to investigate biological materials, such as the polymerase chain reaction method, takes several days. In contrast, this new technology can immediately provide the test results.
The study was led by scientists from the University of Mechanical and Optics, the National Nuclear Research University, the Lebedev Institute of Physics, and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and conducted close cooperation with the Moscow Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital.
Another advantage of this new biosensor is its sensitivity. "Optical biosensors use our technology to detect individual bacteria," said Sergey Kudryashov, a leading researcher in the Laser Laser Technology Laboratory at the School of Laser Technology and Instrumentation at the University of Mechanical and Optics and the Lebedev Institute of Physics. “The early diagnosis of infectious diseases in public institutions such as kindergartens and schools is particularly helpful for seasonal epidemics in colleges and universities. This technique can be a valuable asset for doctors in infectious disease hospitals. Can be used for early and faster diagnosis."
The sensitivity of the biosensor is due to the grating-like structure of the silver film. When infrared rays pass through the sensor, it is regularly distributed on the surface. As the light intensity becomes higher, microholes turn into hot spots. Microorganisms contained in biomaterials effectively fill pores and adsorb in hot spots, which increases their probability of detection.
Millions of microscopic holes are cut using lasers, which are spatially multiplexed into microbeams by diffractive optical elements, enabling researchers to automate sensor production and more quickly.
“Until now, such sensors can only be seen with high magnification electron microscopes, so actual laboratory analysis is not possible. Our method can allow this kind of microporous structure to cover a larger area and expand to One square centimeter of area is used to make prototypes that are used in actual experimental applications to facilitate the adaptation of biological materials, Sergey Kudryashov said.
The backwash method for optical biosensing is not a new one, but it is only a poor effect in the implementation process. This is due to the fact that early technologies did not produce true prototypes that could be used in the laboratory environment for testing and clinical practice.
Before applying this new technology to medical practice, another scientist had to solve a major challenge. The establishment of a reference database for bacteria (infrared spectroscopy library) was used to compare with data generated from infrared spectrometers. .
Infrared spectrometer readings are always compared to this spectral database, ie a catalogue of infrared active fingerprints of certain functional group molecules. For example, Staphylococcus aureus used in the study has its own fingerprint, a carotenoid fragment from carotene, and carotene is a substance responsible for its color.
Scientists hope that in the future, new optical biosensor platforms will be widely used due to lower production costs and rapid manufacturing processes, as well as the use of more common substrate materials. In addition, according to the researchers' instructions, once the spectral library is calibrated, the sensors will be able to identify not only the type of pathogenic microorganism but also their approximate type.
(Original title: Laser technology creates optical biosensors that quickly identify popular viruses)
The sensor is fabricated from a regular micro-perforated silver nano-film deposited on a transparent substrate supported by natural mineral fluorspar. Samples of biological material, such as scraped nasal mucosa, are placed on the membrane. The film was then exposed to the infrared light of an infrared spectrometer in an ordinary laboratory. By capturing the spectra through the sample, researchers can infer the presence of specific bacteria or viruses.
In order to prove that the new bio-sensing platform can detect pathogenic microorganisms immediately, scientists have used a common bacteria to conduct experiments with Staphylococcus aureus.
This kind of rapid analysis may be widely used in large transport hubs, such as airports where there is a need to continuously monitor the health of the circulating passengers. At present, this is achieved by tracking the body temperature with a thermal imaging camera. A fevered passenger may be a potential source of infection. In this case, a clear analysis is necessary to identify whether the person is actually ill or what else. The use of existing methods to investigate biological materials, such as the polymerase chain reaction method, takes several days. In contrast, this new technology can immediately provide the test results.
The study was led by scientists from the University of Mechanical and Optics, the National Nuclear Research University, the Lebedev Institute of Physics, and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and conducted close cooperation with the Moscow Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital.
Another advantage of this new biosensor is its sensitivity. "Optical biosensors use our technology to detect individual bacteria," said Sergey Kudryashov, a leading researcher in the Laser Laser Technology Laboratory at the School of Laser Technology and Instrumentation at the University of Mechanical and Optics and the Lebedev Institute of Physics. “The early diagnosis of infectious diseases in public institutions such as kindergartens and schools is particularly helpful for seasonal epidemics in colleges and universities. This technique can be a valuable asset for doctors in infectious disease hospitals. Can be used for early and faster diagnosis."
The sensitivity of the biosensor is due to the grating-like structure of the silver film. When infrared rays pass through the sensor, it is regularly distributed on the surface. As the light intensity becomes higher, microholes turn into hot spots. Microorganisms contained in biomaterials effectively fill pores and adsorb in hot spots, which increases their probability of detection.
Millions of microscopic holes are cut using lasers, which are spatially multiplexed into microbeams by diffractive optical elements, enabling researchers to automate sensor production and more quickly.
“Until now, such sensors can only be seen with high magnification electron microscopes, so actual laboratory analysis is not possible. Our method can allow this kind of microporous structure to cover a larger area and expand to One square centimeter of area is used to make prototypes that are used in actual experimental applications to facilitate the adaptation of biological materials, Sergey Kudryashov said.
The backwash method for optical biosensing is not a new one, but it is only a poor effect in the implementation process. This is due to the fact that early technologies did not produce true prototypes that could be used in the laboratory environment for testing and clinical practice.
Before applying this new technology to medical practice, another scientist had to solve a major challenge. The establishment of a reference database for bacteria (infrared spectroscopy library) was used to compare with data generated from infrared spectrometers. .
Infrared spectrometer readings are always compared to this spectral database, ie a catalogue of infrared active fingerprints of certain functional group molecules. For example, Staphylococcus aureus used in the study has its own fingerprint, a carotenoid fragment from carotene, and carotene is a substance responsible for its color.
Scientists hope that in the future, new optical biosensor platforms will be widely used due to lower production costs and rapid manufacturing processes, as well as the use of more common substrate materials. In addition, according to the researchers' instructions, once the spectral library is calibrated, the sensors will be able to identify not only the type of pathogenic microorganism but also their approximate type.
(Original title: Laser technology creates optical biosensors that quickly identify popular viruses)