Nanosensors Identify Pathogens in Food

ANTJE BAEUMNER

August 1, 2004

The detection of pathogenic organisms in food, as well as in other application areas such as biosafety, biosecurity, and clinical diagnostics, is of great importance to ensure our well-being. Many challenges have to be overcome to develop sensors that could be used by the consumer and first responder to quickly determine the identity and quantity of pathogens in a food sample in a simple, inexpensive, and sensitive manner. These challenges are caused by the combination of characteristics sought …

Fig. 1—Analytical operations for the detection of intracellular RNA. These unit operations are realized in the modules of the bioanalytical microsystem.

Fig. 2—Principle of the DNA/RNA hybridization assay.

Fig. 3—Principle of the lateral flow assay for the quantification of RNA from a pathogenic organism present in a sample.

Fig. 4—Assembled microfluidic biosensor module. The biosensor is made in polydimethyl siloxane and packed in Plexiglas to provide connection to the outside world.

Fig. 5—Possible micromixer made in polydimethyl siloxane. An intricate “honeycomb” structure is used to passively mix two solutions flowing through the microchannel.