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Monday, September 22, 2008
Eat Silk: 'Edible Optics' Can Save Your Life
Researchers at Tufts University and elsewhere are using silk to create sophisticated optics that may eventually warn that the spinach you were about to eat is contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
Warning
Danger: Do not eat!
In the near future, a similar kind of warning would appear when you try to open a packet of infected food.
The delicious food on the plate tempts the eye to take the plunge. But it does not see the hidden world of microbes that can lead to a tummy ache. Statistics show that food poisoning kills about 5,000 Americans every year. Though you take extra care while preparing food, food poisoning might strike when you least expect it. But don't lose heart. Help is on the way in the form of silk.
Silk?!
Yes. That's right. Silk has undergone an amazing makeover that surprises its own scientific creator.
"It was serendipitous," said Fiorenzo Omenetto, associate professor of biomedical engineering and physics at Tufts. "We didn't really set out with this in mind, to make optics out of silk."
Ok. What exactly does it do?
In the Tuft's lab, a silkworm's cocoon is boiled in water to produce liquified silk. Instead of weaving it into fabric, protein is extracted from it. After the removal of toxic materials in the protein the purified material is poured into molds that create unique nano-scaled surfaces.
These nano sensors can detect the presence of various substances, like E. coli. Light passing through the sensor will appear as a specific color, depending on which substance is detected.
These nano films made from silk are biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic and bio edible. When the nano film is put on a bag of spinach, it would detect the presence of various substances like E. coli.Light passing through the sensor will appear as a specific color, depending on which substance is detected.
Now you can gladly go ahead and eat the spinach. There's no need to search for the film and throw it away. Being edible the nano film can be eaten too. You won't see nor taste it. That's nano technology for you.
Thanks to nano, I can have my cake and eat it too.
Warning
Danger: Do not eat!
In the near future, a similar kind of warning would appear when you try to open a packet of infected food.
The delicious food on the plate tempts the eye to take the plunge. But it does not see the hidden world of microbes that can lead to a tummy ache. Statistics show that food poisoning kills about 5,000 Americans every year. Though you take extra care while preparing food, food poisoning might strike when you least expect it. But don't lose heart. Help is on the way in the form of silk.
Silk?!
Yes. That's right. Silk has undergone an amazing makeover that surprises its own scientific creator.
"It was serendipitous," said Fiorenzo Omenetto, associate professor of biomedical engineering and physics at Tufts. "We didn't really set out with this in mind, to make optics out of silk."
Ok. What exactly does it do?
In the Tuft's lab, a silkworm's cocoon is boiled in water to produce liquified silk. Instead of weaving it into fabric, protein is extracted from it. After the removal of toxic materials in the protein the purified material is poured into molds that create unique nano-scaled surfaces.
These nano sensors can detect the presence of various substances, like E. coli. Light passing through the sensor will appear as a specific color, depending on which substance is detected.
These nano films made from silk are biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic and bio edible. When the nano film is put on a bag of spinach, it would detect the presence of various substances like E. coli.Light passing through the sensor will appear as a specific color, depending on which substance is detected.
Now you can gladly go ahead and eat the spinach. There's no need to search for the film and throw it away. Being edible the nano film can be eaten too. You won't see nor taste it. That's nano technology for you.
Thanks to nano, I can have my cake and eat it too.
PermaLink - Eat Silk: 'Edible Optics' Can Save Your Life posted by Vanessa : 4:10 AM
