Sensor for the Detection and Identification of Bioaerosols

空气中的生物物质是自然存在的，例如，开花植物在春季和夏季释放花粉。然而，许多人(15%的人口)对花粉过敏，可能会有严重的症状，甚至可能危及生命。在医院，一些疾病可以通过空气接触传播，并可能导致医院传播的感染。此外，在这个时候，非政府组织发动生物恐怖主义袭击的风险可能涉及重新释放空气传播的生物毒剂，这可能对整个城市非常危险。与NOx、SO2和CO(按百万分之几的浓度计算)等污染物相比，某些生物气溶胶(SARS、炭疽等)的效力非同寻常。尽管有这一令人震惊的统计数字，但对大气中这些颗粒物的监测并不直接，到目前为止，还没有自动化、可靠的方法来检测这些空气中的生物颗粒物。检测和识别空气中的这些生物颗粒物是一个独特的问题，目前还没有解决方案。我们的工作表明，实时监测大气气溶胶是可能的，是可行的。在这份提案中，我们将为这项技术带来的巨大商业机会建立一个案例。在拟议的工作计划结束时，我们将处于有利地位，通过吸引种子资金或风险资本创建一家独特的高科技公司，或通过合资或许可协议，将这种传感器商业化。

Biological material in the air is a natural occurrence, pollen, for example, is released by flowering plants in the spring and summer months. However, many people (15% of the population) are allergic to pollen hand can have serious symptoms that may even be life threatening. In hospitals some diseases can be spread by air contact and may result in hospital borne infections. Also at this time there is a risk from nongovernment organisations launching bioterrorism attacks that could involve relaseing air borne biological agents which can be very dangerous to whole cities. The potency of some bioaerosols (SARS, anthrax etc) is extraordinary compared to pollutants such as NOx and SO2 and CO (at equivalent part per million concentration). Despite this alarming statistic, monitoring of these particulates in the atmosphere is not straight forward, and to date there is no automated, and reliable method of detection for these air borne biological particulates.Detection and identification of these biological particles in the air presents a unique problem for which there is currently no solution. Our work has shown that it is possible for real-time sensing of boiaerosols can be feasibly achieved. In this proposal we will build a case for the substantial commercial opportunity that this technology presents. At the end of the proposed work programme, we will be in strong position to commercialise this sensor either by attracting seed funding or venture capital to create a unique high technology company or through a joint venture or licensing deal.