Biological Threat Detection Using Spraying Technology

Scientists at the U.S.-based Battelle company from Columbus, Ohio, are reportedly developing a groundbreaking method for detecting biological threats that could revolutionize the identification of dangerous biological agents in the military, healthcare, and food-safety sectors. The technology, originally developed in response to a need from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), uses a specially formulated liquid.

This can be sprayed onto surfaces and, upon contact with the respective biological threats, visibly changes color, yielding immediate and easily interpretable results without complex equipment. “Our work began with the characterization of biological threats, particularly with regard to biological warfare agents, but then expanded to sensor development with the aim of rapidly and reliably detecting these threats,” said David Glasbrenner, lead molecular geneticist in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRNE) Hazards and Energetics division at Battelle.

Identification of Specific Pathogens by Color Change

“By spraying the liquid onto a surface, users can visually detect a color change if a threat is present. It is precisely this simplicity that makes the method so powerful,” said Glasbrenner. In contrast to other surface-analysis systems that merely indicate the presence of a general contamination, Battelle’s technology can be tailored to identify specific biological pathogens. The detection function is based on an in-house formulation that binds to the respective target threats and subsequently produces a visual signal, enabling precise identification.