Compact sensor developed for food, pollution detection

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean engineers said Tuesday that they have developed a compact sensor designed to instantly give accurate, on-site feedback that can help food safety and environmental protection efforts.

The Daejeon-based Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
(KRIBB) team led by Chung Bong-hyun said the equipment is based on the smallest
biochip sensor in the world and uses a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) mechanism
to check DNA and proteins for tell-tales signs of contamination.
SPR and the associated biochip are designed to decipher molecular-level patterns
by picking up laser resonance signals bounced off the surface of objects it is
scanning.
Chung, a chief researcher at KRIBB's Bionanotechnology Research Center, said the
new device can be carried in one hand, as opposed to large, bulky machines that
can only be used in laboratories.
Because of its light weight, it can conduct "point-of-care tests" allowing for
speedy responses, vital when reacting to food-related problems and environmental
conditions.
The expert said with modification, the biochip sensor can also be employed to
help make new drugs and check water supplies. It may also be used in the field by
the military.
The team claimed that once the technology is fully developed, the machine can
create a 500 billion won (US$372 million) global market in hightech analysis
machines, which are in high demand.
The state-run biotech laboratory, which received research and development funds
from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said it has applied for
intellectual property rights protection for key components of the biochip,
including a super-fast rotating mirror and beam modulation device.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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