I-Corps: Nanoparticle-based smell test device for COVID-19 screening

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力在于开发可靠的COVID-19快速筛查。全球COVID-19诊断市场正在迅速扩大。到2020年，市场规模将达到198亿美元，预计2021年至2027年的复合年增长率（CAGR）将达到3.1%。与现有的气味测试相比，该技术可以实现多个气味分子的远程控制切换能力和即时自动评估。所提出的装置允许使用单个装置标准化地发射多个气味分子。此外，设备的结果可以直接通过应用程序或通过网络提供，从而在远程医疗设置中进行测试。由于没有可靠的检测方法可以快速诊断无症状和症状前的COVID-19病例，这项技术可能会改变诊断模式。这个I-Corps项目的基础是开发一种基于纳米粒子的气味测试装置。所提出的基于纳米粒子的系统可以根据需要触发特定分子的受控释放。该嗅觉测试装置在诊断影响嗅觉的疾病方面具有潜在的应用前景。由于嗅觉受损是COVID-19在无症状和症状前病例中的明显迹象，因此该技术具有筛查和早期诊断该疾病的潜力。此外，与传统的气味测试不同，拟议的技术被设计成可以配置成任何形式的因素，从板到笔，再到吸入装置。这种技术允许对多种气味强度进行定量控制，从而促进了迄今为止无法获得的新一层详细数据。了解COVID-19对嗅觉的影响将为诊断和疾病管理打开新的大门。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of reliable rapid screening for COVID-19. The global COVID-19 diagnostics market is expanding rapidly. The market size is valued at $19.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% from 2021 to 2027. Compared to the existing smell tests, the proposed technology facilitates remote-controlled switching capacity of multiple odor molecules and instant auto-evaluation. The proposed device allows standardized emission of multiple odor molecules using a single device. Moreover, results from the device may be delivered directly through the app or over the web enabling testing in telemedicine settings. Since there is no reliable testing for rapid diagnosis of asymptomatic and presymptomatic COVID-19 cases, this technology may potentially change the paradigm of diagnosis.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a nanoparticle-based smell test device. The proposed nanoparticle-based system triggers the controlled release of specific molecules on demand. This smell test device has potential application in the diagnosis of diseases affecting the sense of smell. Since an impaired sense of smell is a distinct sign of COVID-19 in both asymptomatic and presymptomatic cases, this technology has the potential for screening and early diagnosis of the disease. Moreover, unlike traditional smell tests, the proposed technology is designed such that it may be configured into any form factor from a plate to a pen to incorporation in an inhalation device. This technique allows quantitative control of multiple scent intensities facilitating a new layer of detailed data that has hereto not been available. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 in olfaction will open new doors in diagnosis and disease management.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.