一種叫做納米振動(dòng)子的微小結(jié)構(gòu)能夠作為探測(cè)器，檢測(cè)細(xì)菌、病毒和其他病原，因?yàn)楫?dāng)不同的污染物黏附在上面的時(shí)候，能夠以不同頻率發(fā)生振動(dòng)。

由于這種納米振動(dòng)子體積極小，所以比其他大型設(shè)備更加敏感，能夠配備在各種污染物探測(cè)器之上，在危險(xiǎn)致病菌出現(xiàn)的早期即可發(fā)出警報(bào)。Purdue大學(xué)(West Lafayette, IN, USA)發(fā)現(xiàn)園區(qū)的Brick納米技術(shù)中心，發(fā)現(xiàn)這種納米振動(dòng)子，包被各種抗體后能夠檢測(cè)特定病毒，吸附不同密度-或者說每個(gè)面積抗體的數(shù)量－根據(jù)探測(cè)子的不同大小。這種設(shè)備被浸入含有抗體的液體之中，就能夠允許蛋白質(zhì)吸附在振動(dòng)子的表面。
 
Ultra-Small Sensors Detect Microorganisms
 
Tiny structures called nanocantilevers could be used in detectors of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, because they vibrate at different frequencies when contaminants stick to them.

Because of the minute size of the nanocantilever, it is more sensitive than larger devices, and could be incorporated in detectors of contaminants that provide early warning of the presence of dangerous pathogens. Scientists at the Birck Nanotechnology Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN, USA), found that the cantilevers, coated with antibodies to detect certain viruses, attract different densities--or quantity of antibodies per area--depending on the size of the cantilever. The devices were immersed into a liquid containing the antibodies to allow the proteins to stick to the cantilever surface.