Scientists at South Africa’s Stellenbosch University have developed a biological sensor inside a nanochip that can detect bacterial infections within 10 to 15 minutes. The nanochip will become available in 2016.
The device is currently being patented and the Technology Innovation Agency has funded a prototype in preparation for commercialisation by April 2016
Since the nanochip was announced as a project of the university in September 2014, progress has been made in developing additional sensing mechanisms, enhancing its capabilities.
The Conversation reported that the nanochip for early detection of infection came after a chance meeting between the developerss and while discussing individual current research, they agreed to work to find a way of detecting infections early and accurately.
“The basis for our research was Piezoelectricity, which is how crystals convert mechanical energy into electricity or vice-versa. The sensor that was developed for this purpose comprises a nanochip stacked with zinc oxide molecules on top of each other to create millions of nanowires,” said one of the scientists, Willie Perold of Stellenbosch University.
Piezoelelectric energy plays a key role in the identification process. When certain materials, such as zinc oxide wires, are squeezed or pressed they generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress. The slightest disturbance in the structure of the nanowires on the chip leads to piezoelectric energy. This is then converted to electrical energy and amplified to produce a voltage reading.
