“Living Liquid Crystal” Diagnostics
April 8, 2014 | Terry Sharrer
When we think of liquid crystals, the LCD’s of nearly every electronic device come to mind. But cell membranes are a kind of liquid crystal and like water, which can phase between vapor and ice, liquid crystals have “seeable” changes because of their optical properties. This piece describes work at Kent State University where investigators believe that a combined liquid crystal material and living bacteria can reveal very small concentrations of pathogens or toxins in tissue samples, raising possibilities for a new kind of diagnostic device. In 1965, the first international conference on liquid crystals was held at Kent State because of the pioneering work of its chemistry professor, Glen H. Brown. MORE
Image Credit: Kent State and Gizmag.com