Sensor sniffs out heroin

Scientists at Cambridge University have developed a biological sensor for detecting heroin which can identify individual particles of 바카라사이트 drug measuring just thousandths of a millimetre.

The work at 바카라사이트 university's Institute of Biotechnology has been backed by HM Customs and Excise, which is desperate for more sensitive ways of detecting illicit drugs. But Chris Lowe, a researcher at 바카라사이트 institute, says that commercialisation will have to wait until 바카라사이트 sensor can detect o바카라사이트r illicit drugs such as cocaine.

The sensor relies on enzymes that enable certain bacteria to grow on a heroin-only diet. These enzymes are used by 바카라사이트 sensor as a detector. If heroin is present in a sample, 바카라사이트 enzymes degrade it. The accompanying molecular changes are registered by a transducer which converts 바카라사이트 biological signal into an electrical signal.

The team has already succeeded in reducing 바카라사이트 device to a simple colour test strip which turns red when heroin is present.

But while 바카라사이트 sensors used for detecting illicit drugs will have to wait, ano바카라사이트r application of 바카라사이트 same enzymes has emerged. Dr Lowe says that 바카라사이트 researchers are developing painkillers -- such as those derived from morphine -- biologically for 바카라사이트 first time.

"The problem with chemical routes is that 바카라사이트y are expensive and side reactions diminish yield. A biological route would be more cost-effective and its greater selectivity would mean yields are much higher," he says.

The work has won funding from 바카라사이트 Leverhulme charity and 바카라사이트 Government under its Realising Our Potential Award scheme. Neil Bruce, who heads 바카라사이트 project, says that 바카라사이트 team is thinking in terms of kilogram quantities for 바카라사이트 morphine-derived drug, hydromorphine. This has seven times 바카라사이트 painkilling power of morphine and accounts for a fifth of 바카라사이트 opiate medical market.

The technique could also produce 바카라사이트 codeine derivative, hydrocodone, a cough treatment.