NANObeST

Can you imagine that drinking water might not be available at all times? What if contamination with pathogens cannot be ruled out as a result of floods or earthquakes?

To analyze this, complex laboratory analyses are currently required. Bacteria can only be detected using laboratory-based tests: first they are cultured and then the contamination is determined on the basis of their growth. This usually takes too long; speed is crucial! The preceding project "AquaNANO" explored the potential of a novel analytical method for the rapid identification of microbiological contaminations in drinking water. In a joint operational test with the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the principle feasibility was demonstrated. The novel analysis approach uses pre-treated magnetic nanoparticles, so-called nanoprobes. They are coated with special antibodies that can recognize selected pathogens. The nanoprobes bind the pathogens within a water sample. They thus ensure that the pathogens to be detected are separated from the drinking water volume to be examined, concentrated and detected.

The aim of the BMBF-funded joint project "Nanosonden basierte Schnellanalytik von Trinkwasser in Krisensituationen" (NANObeST) is to investigate, test and establish a mobile rapid analysis system for drinking water. Aid organizations such as the THW shall be enabled to detect and quantify bacterial contamination of raw water sources and to detect harmful substances of microbial origin within the provided drinking water. The new detection approach should also allow an estimation of the total bacterial count in order to quickly detect the onset of contamination. In this way, protective and countermeasures can be initiated quickly.

 

BMBF Program

Research for civil security

Call: “Anwender – Innovativ”: Research for Civil Security II
 

Project Duration

Februar 2020 – Januar 2022
 

Project Partners

German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), Bonn
Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH