Low-cost biosensor can detect airborne viruses in real-time

A research team from Universitat Polit?cnica de Val?ncia (UPV) and Universitat de Val?ncia (UV) has developed an innovative biosensor capable of detecting airborne viruses in real-time and at low cost, without the need for chemical markers or laboratory procedures.

This device offers multiple potential applications, including detecting bacteria in hospitals, schools, and transport, thereby increasing safety. The results of this work are published in the journal Talanta.

"After the experience with COVID-19, it is easy to understand that determining the presence of pathogens in the air is vital, as it allows us to take preventive measures. Beyond the coronavirus, there are other microorganisms with a high impact on health and the economy, such as hospital superbugs, avian flu and plant pathogens, which makes it essential to monitor indoor environments," says David Giménez, a researcher at the University of Valencia.

Currently, the most common method for assessing the presence of pathogens in the air is to sample the air for a period of time and collect possible pathogens in Petri dishes or collector solutions. The microorganisms are then identified or quantified in the laboratory.

"The main drawback is that this sampling and analysis process is very time-consuming, even taking days," explains Patricia Noguera, from the Universitat Polit?cnica de Val?ncia.

Image source: Noguera et al. (2025), Talanta.