A team of researchers at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago has developed an alternative to mass spectrometers or other large, expensive machines for monitoring airborne hazardous chemicals. 

Called ABLE, the small and low-cost device can identify bacteria, viruses, and nanoplastics in the air. It measures four by eight inches across and has proven valuable in hospitals, as it can offer a non-invasive alternative to blood draws, especially for newborns in neonatal intensive care units.

Jingcheng Ma, assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at Notre Dame and the study's first author, explained how beneficial ABLE is to protecting human health and the environment:

"Many important biomarkers — molecules your body produces when it's dealing with pathogens — are very dilute in the air. They could be at the parts per billion level. Trying to find them is like locating six to seven people in the global population — very difficult." 

Published in Nature Chemical Engineering, the team's work results showed that molecules with low concentrations can effectively enter water droplets without the need for advanced chemical systems. 

Building on their success, the team is now working to scale the device down further. They aim to integrate it into portable or robotic systems for use in healthcare and environmental monitoring.

Ma shared that his long-term vision is to develop tools that are both effective and accessible:

"I like to do what I call 'budget research,' that is, use simple and low-cost components, but do something important that no one has achieved before. I like research that delivers something everyone can buy from the store." 

The team has already started partnering with local communities to use ABLE in neonatal care.

Read the full article hereto learn more about the new detection device.

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