Printed PFI box is a game-changer for antibiotics discovery

The Printed Fluorescence Imaging Box (PFIbox) is a 3D printed box that is capable of collecting large amounts of data that is then analyzed by researchers. The box, made of nine 3D-printed parts, allows scientists to analyze more than 6,000 samples of bacteria at a time.

PFIbox uses LED lights to excite fluorescent proteins found in bacteria and then wirelessly sends data to researchers studying how cells respond to antibiotics over time. It is being used at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research to help researchers develop and create new antibiotics.

The researchers have made the PFIbox’s code open source and available to anyone who wants to use them.

Source: www.3ders.org