New sensor sniffs out nano-threats

Citation

(2003), "New sensor sniffs out nano-threats", Sensor Review, Vol. 23 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2003.08723cab.006

New sensor sniffs out nano-threats

New sensor sniffs out nano-threats

Keywords: Biosensors, CCD

A highly sensitive biosensor, capable of gauging concentrations of harmful substances in the environment at the nanogram level, has been developed by a subsidiary of measuring instrument maker Horiba Ltd of Japan, in cooperation with an associated professor at the Toyohashi University of Toyohashi, also of Japan. When a protein antibody applied to the surface of a charge-coupled device on the sensor comes into contact with a harmful substance, it generates ions and produces on the CCD part, where electrons are stored. The concentrations of these harmful substances are gauged by electrically amplifying the rate of storage of electrons.

A prototype sensor, made by integrating a CCD and peripheral circuits on a chip, measures some 2cm². In the experiments, the team was able to gauge the concentration of bisphenol A, a substance suspected of being a hormone, in units of several nanograms. It usually takes anywhere from several seconds to about 30min for the new sensor to gauge concentrations of substances. Use of a CCD makes it possible to produce a smaller, simpler biosensor. By changing antibodies, the device could even be used to detect priors, the proteins thought to be responsible for causing the Moscow disease, as well as toxic substances in the atmosphere.

If DNA is applied on the CCD instead of the antibodies, the device can be used as a DNA chip. Conventional methods, despite being highly sensitive, require highly trained people and a long time to detect the harmful substances.