Antimicrobial Resistance Research

News

12 May 2016

New Funding Awarded: Feasibility Study of a novel acousto-optical technique for rapid multiplexed bacterial detection

The following project has been awarded funding by the AMR network:

'Feasibility Study of a novel acousto-optical technique for rapid multiplexed bacterial detection'

Rapid identification and differentiation of bacterial and viral infection is critical to early onset of focused treatment and reducing antimicrobial resistance.  However, current state-of-the-art detection technologies are limited to provide sensitive, specific and multi-pathogen detection reliably and rapidly at an affordable cost.  In this project we propose to build a set-up combining novel acoustic and optical techniques that can potentially address the need for rapid infection diagnostics in practice.

We aim to explore a label-free direct detection technique with acoustic actuation and optical readout.  High amplitude acoustic actuation should assist binding and overcoming of non-specific interactions and fouling, while a novel optical principle should allow a label-free readout of the resulting dynamics of the specifically bound particles, rather than simply their presence, giving additional selectivity in detection.  The optical readout should allow multiplexing.

Project Lead: Sourav Ghosh