一種叫做納米振動子的微小結構能夠作為探測器，檢測細菌、病毒和其他病原，因為當不同的污染物黏附在上面的時候，能夠以不同頻率發生振動。

由于這種納米振動子體積極小，所以比其他大型設備更加敏感，能夠配備在各種污染物探測器之上，在危險致病菌出現的早期即可發出警報。Purdue大學(West Lafayette, IN, USA)發現園區的Brick納米技術中心，發現這種納米振動子，包被各種抗體后能夠檢測特定病毒，吸附不同密度-或者說每個面積抗體的數量－根據探測子的不同大小。這種設備被浸入含有抗體的液體之中，就能夠允許蛋白質吸附在振動子的表面。
 
Ultra-Small Sensors Detect Microorganisms
 
Tiny structures called nanocantilevers could be used in detectors of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, because they vibrate at different frequencies when contaminants stick to them.

Because of the minute size of the nanocantilever, it is more sensitive than larger devices, and could be incorporated in detectors of contaminants that provide early warning of the presence of dangerous pathogens. Scientists at the Birck Nanotechnology Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN, USA), found that the cantilevers, coated with antibodies to detect certain viruses, attract different densities--or quantity of antibodies per area--depending on the size of the cantilever. The devices were immersed into a liquid containing the antibodies to allow the proteins to stick to the cantilever surface.