Valencia, 18 December. (Europa Press) –
The Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), through the Center for Nanophotonic Technology (NTC), leads the PhotonGate, a European project whose main objective is the development and manufacture of a new diagnostic system–sensor– that can detect new viruses. will allow detection. Bacteria and chemical agents, both currently active and emerging, quickly and easily.
Photogate sensors are based on a unique combination of chemical bioreceptors, combining the use of molecular gates and photonic technology. The doors are essential to increase the sensitivity of the sensor and thus, it can detect even the tiniest amount of virus, bacteria or chemical agent, while photonics is what allows test results to be obtained in minutes.
NTC-UPV researcher and project coordinator, Amadeu Griol, explained that “in recent years it has been proven that the appearance of new viruses can have a very negative impact on people’s health”.
For this reason, the project contemplated the development of “innovative sensors that would be capable of not only detecting but also quantifying threats, but not only viral ones, as they present themselves as bacteria in areas such as food.” or may also present as chemical contamination, affecting livestock or even the environment”, explained Griol.
“The photoNugate is a sensor with clear advantages compared to current systems such as PCR or ELISA tests, both for speed and sensitivity as well as ease of use and price, as its production cost would be much lower”, he highlighted.
In addition to testing, the test reading platform will be developed within the framework of the project. “All these devices will be manufactured in Europe, thus increasing the technical autonomy of the EU”, commented the researcher.
more participants
Photongate is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program and coordinated by Ramón Martínez Manez, a team from the Institute for Molecular Detection and Technological Development (IDM), and a group from the Department of Technology also participates on behalf of the UPV on behalf of the Food Takes. led by Jose Manuel Barat.
The work of the IDM team focuses on the implementation and validation of all chemical parts of the molecular gates and sensors in the food field of the Food Technology Department.
The project also has the participation of the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community (Fisabio), whose work focuses on the validation of sensors for their application in virus detection; Valencia-based Lumencia Sensors and Belgian Multitel, which will develop the test reading and analysis platform.
And the consortium is completed by the Technical University of Denmark, the Lisbon Polytechnic, the German Fraunhofer Institute and the Meat Industries Research Association of the Principality of Asturias (ASINCAR).
All partners will meet this Monday, December 19 and Tuesday, December 20 at the Universitat Politècnica de València, which will host the first meeting of this international project that will last for the next three years.
