Micro-sensors for pathogens

Monday 10 September 2007

Micrometer-sized diving boards, also called cantilevers, can be used as highly sensitive biochemical sensors of food- and water-borne pathogens. Anja Boisen and her colleagues believe the method will enable food and water quality control to move closer to the producer/supplier, so that any potential contamination can be discovered as fast as possible.

Each cantilever has an integrated resistor with piezoresistive properties, which means that the resistance changes when the cantilever bends. When a molecule lands on the surface, the cantilever starts to bend due to changes in surface stress of the two faces of the cantilever.

link to website