by dominic lanni. part one introduction what are biosensors? a device that uses a living organism...
TRANSCRIPT
BIOSENSORSBy Dominic Lanni
Overview of Biosensors
Part One
Introduction
What are biosensors? A device that uses a living organism or
biological molecule to detect things Usually chemicals, heavy metals,
pathogens
Famous Person
Pioneer of technology is Anthony P. F. Turner
Introduced screen-printing techniques
Developed blood-glucose sensors for diabetics
Types of Biosensors
Can be Electrochemical
(Amperometry)Electrical (Conductivity)Optical (Fluorescence)Mass Sensitive
(Piezoelectric frequency)Thermal (Heat of
reaction/adsorption)
Design ProposalPart Two
Purpose
Dysentery-not fun (duh) Caused by an amoeba or a
bacterium called Shigella No vaccine available
(although there are treatments)
Proposal: a Mass-Sensitive BiosensorWill detect bacteria in water
Competing Technologies
Conventional bacterial cultures
Immunological methods
Molecular microbiological methods
The Design Mass-sensitive
Utilizes piezoelectric quartz crystal
DNA probe attached to crystal
Water sample put through DNA isolation process, and heated to denature strandsPCR may also be performed
The Design DNA is pipetted in, and
heated to 50 degrees Celsius
Strands anneal to probe, increasing mass of crystal
Change in mass creates change in frequency
Change in frequency signals presence of Shigella
Expected Results
If the frequency emitted by the crystal changes, then DNA has bound to probe
If DNA binds to probe, then Shigella bacteria are present in water sample
Knowledge of contamination prevents spreading and contraction of dysentery
Advantages
No lack of supplies, as in bacterial cultures
Can be extremely fast Crystals are cheap
Potential Problems Could be difficult to assemble on a large scale PCR would slow down process if necessary for
success Portable power source for whole system necessary, as
finding an outlet may be difficult Crystals can degrade in quality over time
Testing
Tests to determine how accurate device is
Tests to determine if PCR is necessary or not
Environmental tests to determine hardiness of device and crystals
THIS CONCLUDES THE
PRESENTATIONHope you learned something.
I don’t care what.
Anything is great.