Intelligent biochip to detect airborne microorganisms

The Technical University of Denmark is co-developing a biochip with Ilochip to detect the airborne presence of pathogens such as bird flu and food and mouth disease in around thirty minutes. The project is being supported with DKK 10 million, over a three-year period, by the High Technology Fund.

The biochip is installed in livestock housing units and air passes over the chip, which uses static electricity to catch airborne microorganisms. These microorganisms are then broken down and the DNA is extracted, analyzed and amplified using PCR techniques.

There is no need for large sample volumes as the biochip is sensitive enough to make an analysis on the basis of a single airborne bacterium or virus particle. When it identifies a suspicious microorganism, an alarm is raised.

Ilochip claims that it can do this in around 30 minutes, compared to conventional laboratory analysis which can take several days to complete.

Danish company, Ilochip, formerly Thomsen Bioscience was founded with the aim of developing a biological warfare detection device based on intelligent biochips.

The project is being funded by the High Technology fund with DKK 10 million over a three-year-period.

Source: Biotech Scandinavia, 08.03.07