Researchers from the UK’s University of Sheffield (www.shef.ac.uk) are developing an innovative sensor based on a polymer that will emit a fluorescent signal when it detects bacteria. This will allow scientists to easily identify infected wounds much earlier. Currently, this takes several days and requires specialist laboratory facilities. However, by using polymers that change shape when they encounter bacteria, and developing a light signal through fluorescence non-radiative energy transfer, the researchers will be able to detect early stage contamination.

The three-year research programme is receiving funding of GBP 670,000 (EUR 980,000) jointly from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (Swindon / UK; www.epsrc.ac.uk) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Salisbury / UK; www.dstl.gov.uk).