The Valencian technology center, ITENE, is working on developing new systems based on biosensors, to detect airborne filamentous fungi and E.coli and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. All of them can affect human health, food and surfaces that may come into contact with them. In addition, it will design new microsensors for the detection and volatile organic compound (VOC) samplingpollutants that may be present in the air.
ITENE carries out these investigations in the project BIOTSENS (2022-2023), financed by the IVACE (Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness) with FEDER funds. The objective is to obtain tools that allow early detection of pathogens and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in different matrices.
Alexander Hernandezresponsible for the project at ITENE, explained that “systems are being developed for the early detection of pathogens based on biosensing technologies, as well as new nanostructured systems to quickly and cheaply check the presence of VOCs”.
Detection of E.coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Legionella spp.
The control of pathogens in the agricultural and food sectors is essential to guarantee human health and prevent economic impacts derived from affecting the reputation of a company after a health alert.
For this, sensitive, effective and fast tools are needed to trigger early warnings and accelerate decision-making in critical situations, guaranteeing food quality and consumer health.
Within the framework of BIOTSENS, an analysis kit will be developed based on the use of biosensors to identify bacteria of the genera in food and surfaces that may come into contact with them. Listeria and E. coli. Ingesting these bacteria through contaminated food can cause serious infections, such as listeriosis, which, in turn, can lead to hospitalization.
This project will also investigate new experimental approaches for the biodetection of Legionella spp, which can cause legionellosis, through the development of a prototype system for its ‘in situ’ sampling integrated with a biosensor system, for its monitoring in facilities such as cooling towers, humidifiers, saunas, spas and gyms, among others.
air monitoring
Air monitoring is key, both to control the transmission of pathologies through this route and to assess exposure to pollutants.
The BIOTSENS project also covers research on new biosensing platforms for the detection of filamentous fungi, integrated with automated bioaerosol capture devices. This type of development is especially oriented towards the monitoring of this type of pathogens in critical environments in hospitals, such as operating rooms, clean rooms and spaces where patients live.
In addition, this development is aligned with some of the needs present in the agri-food industry. In particular, with the monitoring of spaces where fruit and vegetables are stored, in order to control the presence of certain fungi that cause the deterioration of fresh food.
On the other hand, air quality control and monitoring of potentially harmful compounds In certain industrial environments it is critical to guarantee the health of workers and the quality of the environment, especially those urban centers located near the industry.
In this area, the BIOTSENS project will focus on obtaining low-cost microsensors to identify the presence of volatile organic compounds, commonly known as VOCs, which may be present in different sectors, as well as being critical parameters for quality control. indoor air (IAC).
Specifically, you will get a low-power nanostructured resistive sensor prototype and low response times that will allow checking the presence in the air of aromatic hydrocarbons BTX (benzene, toluene and xylene), which may be present in substances for industrial and domestic use, such as solvents and other derivatives of the petrochemical industry.
