Nanofiber-reinforced napkin detects toxins
Filed in archive Materials on September 13, 2006
Now detecting the presence of toxins, including viruses, bacteria, biohazards and toxic chemicals, may be as easy as wiping a toxin-detecting napkin across a surface.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a nanofiber-reinforced, biodegradable absorbent wipe containing antibodies to numerous biohazards and chemicals. The wipe would signal toxicity by changing color or through another effect when the antibodies attached to their targets. Users would simply wipe the napkin across a surface; if a biohazard were detected, the surface could be disinfected and retested with another napkin to be sure it was no longer contaminated.
"It's very inexpensive, it wouldn't require that someone be highly trained to use it, and it could be activated for whatever you want to find," said Margaret Frey, Assistant Professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Design. "So if you're working in a meat-packing plant, for instance, you could swipe it across some hamburger and quickly and easily detect E. coli bacteria." (photo Cornell University)

Permalink: Nanofiber-reinforced napkin detects toxins
Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano napkin wipe cornell toxin detect nanofiber nanofiber+reinforced
Vote for Nanofiber-reinforced napkin detects toxins:
|
Rating: 6.00 out of 1 vote(s) cast.
|
| RSS | |
|
| |
| Yahoo! |
|
| Addthis |
|
| Bloglines |
|
| Follow us on Twitter! |
Most Popular
Best of
Biotech
Business
Computing & Infotech
Design
Did you know
Energy
Environment & Health
Events
Government
Information About
Institutions
Investing
Links
Materials
Medical
Military
News
Products
Quick introduction
