The work, entitled "Anomalous Resonance in a Nanomechanical BioSensor," details the team's discovery about the behavior of tiny structures called nanocantilevers that could be crucial in designing a new class of ultra-small sensors for detecting viruses, bacteria and other pathogens.

Research performed at the Birck Nanotechnology Center here at Purdue was funded by the National Institutes of Health, and is aimed at developing advanced sensors capable of detecting minute quantities of viruses, bacteria and other cantaminantsin air and fluids by coating the cantilevers with proteins, including antibodies that attract the contaminants. Such sensors will have applications in areas including environmental-health monitoring in hospitals and homeland security.

Additional information is available at the University News Service website.