An international team, led by Swinburne University of Technology and Australian National University (ANU), have made a breakthrough discovery that could potentially lead to faster, more accurate molecular or virus tests, including for COVID-19.
The team is co-led by Director of Swinburne’s Centre for Translational Atomaterials, Professor Baohua Jia, and head of the ANU’s Nonlinear Physics Centre, Distinguished Professor Yuri Kivshar. Together, they have solved one of the most persistent challenges in the study and engineering of light at nanoscale (known as nanophotonics): light field enhancement at a nanoscale. Basically, how to produce huge light energy on a miniscule scale.
Their discovery enables the creation of ultracompact sensing chips. These are the size of 100 microns (for context, that’s the size of a strand of your hair) with unprecedented sensitivity for detecting pathogens.
It brings enormous advantages, including faster and more accurate molecular detection in blood and saliva. This would vastly improve our ability to test and track viruses, reducing the chance of community transmission of contagious viruses. And, it could also play an important role in preventative health by revolutionizing how surplus sugars and other anomalies in the blood are detected.
Butterfly wings, which inspired the breakthrough, are made up of thousands of layers of tiny scales. When light hits a butterfly wing, it travels through those layers, and each layer has a concentrating effect.
“We should always learn from nature. In this work, nature-inspired innovation creates the solution to this challenge,” says Distinguished Professor Yuri Kivshar from ANU, who co-led the research with Professor Baohua Jia from Swinburne.
So, the researchers set to work designing and fabricating a nanophotonic chip that mimicked the structure of a Bicyclus butterfly wing. 3D laser nanoprinting took place in Swinburne’s Advanced Manufacturing and Design Centre. With the chip in hand, they deposited a testing sample on top and found they had achieved the impossible: they’d uncovered a way to manipulate space and time to concentrate light precisely as they pleased.
Because concentrated light has the power to pick up fewer pathogenic cells, it means everything can be scaled right down—wait times, sample sizes and testing materials. With less wastage, it’s a sustainability win too.
“We think this breakthrough will bring new possibilities and opportunities into this entire field,” Dr. Yao Liang, the first author of this study, adds.
“We are glad we have done the “mission impossible” in this field,” says Dr. Han Lin.
“We are looking forward to developing more applications based on this technology in the near future,” Professor Baohua Jia adds.
News
Inside the Nano-Universe: New 3D X-Ray Imaging Transforms Material Science
A cutting-edge X-ray method reveals the 3D orientation of nanoscale material structures, offering fresh insights into their functionality. Researchers at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) have developed a groundbreaking technique called X-ray linear dichroic orientation tomography [...]
X-chromosome study reveals hidden genetic links to Alzheimer’s disease
Despite decades of research, the X-chromosome’s impact on Alzheimer’s was largely ignored until now. Explore how seven newly discovered genetic loci could revolutionize our understanding of the disease. Conventional investigations of the genetic contributors [...]
The Unresolved Puzzle of Long COVID: 30% of Young People Still Suffer After Two Years
A UCL study found that 70% of young people with long Covid recovered within 24 months, but recovery was less likely among older teenagers, females, and those from deprived backgrounds. Researchers emphasized the need [...]
Needle-Free: New Nano-Vaccine Effective Against All COVID-19 Variants
A new nano-vaccine developed by TAU and the University of Lisbon offers a needle-free, room-temperature-storable solution against COVID-19, targeting all key variants effectively. Professor Ronit Satchi-Fainaro’s lab at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medical and [...]
Photoacoustic PDA-ICG Nanoprobe for Detecting Senescent Cells in Cancer
A study in Scientific Reports evaluated a photoacoustic polydopamine-indocyanine green (PDA-ICG) nanoprobe for detecting senescent cells. Senescent cells play a role in tumor progression and therapeutic resistance, with potential adverse effects such as inflammation and tissue [...]
How Dysregulated Cell Signaling Causes Disease
Cell signaling is crucial for cells to communicate and function correctly. Disruptions in these pathways, caused by genetic mutations or environmental factors, can lead to uncontrolled cell growth, improper immune responses, or errors in [...]
Scientists Develop Super-Strong, Eco-Friendly Plastic That Bacteria Can Eat
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have developed a biodegradable composite material that could play a significant role in addressing the global plastic waste crisis. Billions of tons of plastic waste clutter our planet. Most [...]
Building a “Google Maps” for Biology: Human Cell Atlas Revolutionizes Medicine
New research from the Human Cell Atlas offers insights into cell development, disease mechanisms, and genetic influences, enhancing our understanding of human biology and health. The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) consortium has made significant [...]
Bioeconomic Potential: Scientists Just Found 140 Reasons to Love Spider Venom
Researchers at the LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG) have discovered a significant diversity of enzymes in spider venom, previously overshadowed by the focus on neurotoxins. These enzymes, found across 140 different families, [...]
Quantum Algorithms and the Future of Precision Medicine
Precision medicine is reshaping healthcare by tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. At the forefront of this revolution, the integration of quantum computing and machine learning [...]
Scientists Have Discovered a Simple Supplement That Causes Prostate Cancer Cells To Self-Destruct
Menadione, a vitamin K precursor, shows promise in slowing prostate cancer in mice by disrupting cancer cell survival processes, with potential applications for human treatment and myotubular myopathy therapy. Prostate cancer is a quiet [...]
Scientists reveal structural link for initiation of protein synthesis in bacteria
Within a cell, DNA carries the genetic code for building proteins. To build proteins, the cell makes a copy of DNA, called mRNA. Then, another molecule called a ribosome reads the mRNA, translating it [...]
Vaping Isn’t Safe: Scientists Uncover Alarming Vascular Risks
Smoking and vaping impair vascular function, even without nicotine, with the most significant effects seen in nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. Researchers recommend avoiding both for better health. Researchers have discovered immediate impacts of cigarette and e-cigarette [...]
Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for PrEP Reduces HIV Infections by 96%
Twice-yearly injections of the capsid inhibitor drug lenacapavir can prevent the vast majority of HIV infections, according to a Phase 3 clinical trial published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. HIV pre-exposure [...]
Did Social Distancing Begin 6,000 Years Ago? Neolithic Villagers May Have Invented It
Social distancing may have roots 6,000 years ago, as research shows Neolithic villages like Nebelivka used clustered layouts to control disease spread. The phrase “social distancing” became widely recognized in recent years as people [...]
Decoding Alzheimer’s: The Arctic Mutation’s Role in Unusual Brain Structures
Researchers have uncovered how certain genetic mutations lead to unique spherical amyloid plaques in inherited forms of Alzheimer’s, offering insights that could advance our understanding of the disease and improve therapeutic strategies. An international collaboration [...]
