Photocore has developed the first online biological particle level detection model

In the course of scientific-technical and development work over the past year the company "Fotokor" managed to create a working model of the device, capable of online detecting the increase in the level of organic particles, viruses, bacteria, rickettsia in the air.

At present the team of the enterprise specialists is working to increase the sensitivity of the device and to create a technological construction, which allows the price of similar devices offered in the free market to be reduced many times.

About the device

The equipment designed by "Fotokor" operates on the basis of scattered light analysis. The main challenges associated with measuring the concentration of nano-micro bioparticles in air that the Photocore team was able to overcome were:

1. Generally, concentrations of bioparticles in air are quite small, and light scattering on them is a negligible fraction of the incident light flux.

2. It is necessary to separate the light scattered on ordinary particles (such as dust) from the light scattered on biological particles.

3. In the ambient air there are always quite large dust particles of a few microns in size and the light scattered from them is billions of times more powerful than the light scattered on the nanoparticles of small viruses.

New development

Another promising task of Photocor that needs to be solved is the determination of the form factor of biological particles in the air. If it would be possible to measure even the simplest parameters (length, height, width, diameter), it would be possible to carry out primary classification of particles, allocating among them a share, for example, spherical (cocci) or bacilliform (bacilli), which would allow to determine their specific type at least preliminary and to define the threat and countermeasures.

For example, the HIV and influenza virus are spherical, the rabies virus is bullet-shaped and the smallpox virus is cube-shaped.

Placing such devices in crowded places (airports, train stations, metro stations, shopping centers) would make it possible to quickly identify threats of infection and take immediate action, for example, by disinfecting the air with ultraviolet radiation.

Another important area of application of such bio-detectors is in medical institutions, hospitals, surgical and infectious disease departments.

Every research institution working with bacteria and viruses should be equipped with a network of bio-detectors.

Photocore is also conducting a series of studies that will, in the near future, link individual biodefectors into networks that transmit data to each other and thereby provide a picture of the spread of dangerous bioparticles.

By 2021, Fokor plans to release the first commercial prototypes of the modern compact devices, which will be used not only in hospitals, but also in transport, agriculture and households.

About Company

Company "Fotokor", founded in 1997, is engaged in development, production and sale of equipment for analysis of disperse particles in liquids using the methods of dynamic and static light scattering. Such instruments enable determination of particle size, zeta potential and molecular mass in the nanometer and submicron size range. These parameters are relevant both for fundamental and applied research in various fields of science and for control and management of technological processes in modern industrial production sectors.

Areas of activity

"Photocor is engaged in several directions of activity:

- equipment for particle analysis. During its activity the company has developed a number of unique nanoanalyzers and methods not only for measurement of nanoparticles sizes in regular conditions, but also in low-transparent disperse media that allows, for example, to investigate colloidal properties of oil and gas condensate systems.

- development of custom-made solutions. Employees of the company are engaged in the development of a variety of tasks. Individual customer requirements, as well as equipment specifics are taken into account when placing an order for one or another product.

- scientific activity. "Fotokor" successfully cooperates with different enterprises and scientific organizations. In addition, the company is involved in promising research projects in such areas as: phase transition studies using light scattering methods, oil and gas condensate systems research, development of new optical methods of medical diagnostics.

Another service of the company is technical and service support of customers. It consists in installation and launching of products in customer's laboratories, as well as training of personnel in operation of devices. It is carried out face to face or in absentia, depending on capacities of a client. At the same time, Fotokor employees provide warranty and post-warranty service of the equipment supplied.