Carnegie Mellon University researchers, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, have produced one of the quickest COVID-19 antibody tests available. The test detects the presence of two antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, in 10 to 15 seconds. A rapid and effective test like this may be a game changer in terms of controlling the pandemic’s spread.
A very little drop of blood from a fingertip (less than five microliters) would be required for the breakthrough test to identify two viral antibodies: spike S1 protein and receptor binding domain (RBD). Through an electrochemical reaction within a portable microfluidic device, it can detect antibody concentrations as low as one picomolar (0.15 nanograms per milliliter). The results are delivered very instantly using a simple interface on a smartphone. Using a specific chemistry found by the researchers, the gadget can be cleaned (i.e. regenerated) in one minute, allowing many, subsequent readings from the same device.
Aerosol jet 3D printing, a basic yet beautiful additive manufacturing method, is responsible for the efficiency and precision of this testing apparatus. Tiny, low-cost gold micropillar electrodes are manufactured at the nanoscale using thermally sintered aerosol droplets. This results in a rough, uneven surface that increases the surface area of the micropillars and improves the electrochemical response, allowing antibodies to grab on to antigens coated on the electrode. Because of the unique design, the micropillars can load more proteins for detection, resulting in exceptionally precise and speedy findings.
Because the binding process between the antibody and antigen in the device is very selective, the test has a very low mistake rate. The researchers took use of nature’s design. The device is simple to construct and has a tentative patent (in the tens of dollars). Manufacturing capabilities are already in place.
“My research group turned into operating on 3-d revealed high-overall performance sensors to discover dopamine, a chemical in brain, while we found out that we ought to adapt our paintings for COVID-19 testing,” said Rahul Panat, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon who makes use of specialised additive production strategies for studies starting from brain-pc interfaces to biomonitoring devices. “We shifted our studies to use our information to combatting this devastating pandemic.”
Knowing the paintings might require a multidisciplinary approach, Panat collaborated with Shou-Jiang Gao, chief of the Cancer Virology Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and professor of microbiology and molecular genetics on the University of Pittsburgh. Azahar Ali, a postdoctoral researcher in Panat’s Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Lab, turned into the lead creator of the study. Their studies findings are to be had on MedRxiv in anticipation of peer review.
“Because of the enormous, prospective impact on public health,” Panat said, “we’re disclosing these data at the time of preprint and prior to peer review.”
Other infectious disorders can also be detected using this sensor platform.
