Wearable, Printable, Shapeable Sensors Detect Pathogens and Toxins in the Environment

Credit: Fio Omenetto, Tufts University SilkLab

A drone fuselage was embedded with a biopolymer sensor capable of detecting airborne SARS-CoV-2. During flight, the propellers direct airflow through the porous body of the drone which will emit light if virus was present. The drones could enable monitoring environments from a remote, safe distance

« Wearable, Printable, Shapeable Sensors Detect Pathogens and Toxins in the Environment

Credit: Alfredo Quijano, University of Washington

The molecular switch in the biopolymer sensor consists of a protein that acts like a lock and key. When a target molecule or pathogen (blue) binds to the switch, it uncovers the “lock” allowing a molecular key (red) to combine and form a complete luciferase enzyme (green) with the lock. Luciferase, found in fireflies and glowworms, can then emit a green light indicating the presence and quantity of the target.

« Wearable, Printable, Shapeable Sensors Detect Pathogens and Toxins in the Environment

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