Ultra-fast pollutant detector

Scientists at the University of New South Wales have developed a new bio-sensor that detects trace amounts of contaminants in just 40 minutes.

This device is made up of magnetic gold-plated magnetic nanoparticles, which are not only super-sensitive to the detection of chemical compounds, but also for rapid results. It promises countless potential applications in the future to detect drugs, toxins and pesticides in biomedical or environmental analysis.

The ability of the device has been tested by scientists to detect Enrofloxacin (an antibiotic used in agriculture that can be delivered via the food chain) in animal milk within 40 days. minute at the nanogram level (one billionth of a gram) in each liter of milk. This shows that the new biometric sensor is super sensitive, unlike other conventional devices.

Biosensors are generally a compact device at the molecular level to detect a substance in the compound. To date, biological sensors have been used to test the safety of drinking water, glucose in diabetics and pregnancy tests.