Originally published on The Nano Newswire
This astonishing information comes from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Researchers there have coated carbon nanotubes -- hollow one-atom-thick cylinders made of pure carbon -- with protein fragments found in bee venom to detect a class of explosives known as nitro-aromatic compounds. This class of explosives includes TNT.
The binding of the target molecule (i.e., the molecule of nitro-aromatic compound) to the bee venom coating of the carbon nanotube, causes a shift in the wavelength of the carbon nanotubes natural fluorescence. This change in natural fluorescence is detected by a microscope. Furthermore, by coating different nanotubes with different protein fragments, different explosives can be detected and identified.
Such technology could be used at airports. It is envisioned that such high sensitivity may be able to detect explosives over a broad area, and therefore, reduce the need for individualized disruptive security checks in airports.
We are certainly waiting for more information on this timely development for public saftety, including world air transportation safety.
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