Τατουάζ…δοντιού εναντίον λοιμώξεων

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Frank Wojciechowski / Rex Features (1686194a) Michael McAlpine and his team at Princeton University have created a remote chemical sensor starting with graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of carbon. Incredible Tooth Tattoos Can Screen Breath For Illness A team of scientists at Princeton University have developed a 'tooth tattoo', which can pick up early warning signs of sickness or infection by bacteria in people's breath. The wireless sensor can be tattooed onto teeth, diagnose an infection and transmit that information to medical professionals. Michael McAlpine and his team at Princeton believe the sensors could be used for military personnel in the field to determine whether a wound has become infected, or in hospitals where patients with weakened immune systems are extra vulnerable to bacteria. Mr McAlpine said: "We experimented with a cow's tooth and when a student breathes onto the sensor planted on it, the computer picked up molecules on his breath." The scientists created the remote chemical sensor with graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of carbon, which is very sticky and has a super-sensitive surface. They then planted carefully constructed peptides (a sequence of amino acids) onto the surface of graphene. McAlpine and his team have shown the sensors can detect bacteria individually picking them up like Velcro. McAlpine is currently planning to license and commercialise the device. MUST CREDIT PICTURES TO: Frank Wojciechowski / Rex Features For more information visit http://www.rexfeatures.com/stacklink/VGUQKFSPI (File: toothtattoo.jpg )