Rapid Reagent-Free Detection of COVID-19 in Exhaled Breath Condensate using Ultra-Sensitive Multi-wavelength SERS Nano-gratings

作为过去20年中第三次记录到的动物到人的冠状病毒（2002年的严重急性呼吸系统综合征，2012年的中东呼吸系统综合征），目前的大流行和未来流行病的几乎确定性要求加强监测和主动筛查。2019年新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的持续治疗可能至少需要一年时间。目前使用实时逆转录聚合酶链反应（rRT-PCR）的标准护理诊断测试是资源密集型的，昂贵且不准确。迫切需要一种替代的、高灵敏度、快速和无标记的技术，用于在测试点检测和区分分子结构，包括病毒株。 自2014年以来，多伦多大学（UofT）的Kherani教授团队一直在开发一种新型纳米光子传感（NPS）平台，以前所未有的灵敏度检测疾病生物标志物。该专利技术平台将被重新用于开发针对严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的高灵敏度，快速近即时，无试剂的即时检测（PoCT）系统。我们（工程，医学和工业）合作提出使用超灵敏多波长Sers纳米光栅技术来证明呼出气冷凝液（EBC）和相关样品中COVID-19快速无试剂检测的可行性，并进一步将该技术转化为广泛用于一系列公共和卫生环境。EBC分析仪的部署将改进COVID-19遏制方案，促进医院、养老院和整个社区（学校、办公室、工厂和交通枢纽）快速识别阳性病例，并将允许未来的疾病监测。

As the third documented emergence of an animal-to-human coronavirus during the past two decades (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2002, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2012), the current pandemic and near-certainty of future epidemics demands intensified surveillance and proactive screening. Definitive therapy for novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is likely at least a year away. Current standard-of-care diagnostic testing with real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) is resource intensive, costly and inaccurate. An alternative, high sensitivity, rapid and label-free technique for detecting and differentiating molecular structures, including viral strains, at the point-of-testing is urgently needed. Since 2014, Professor Kherani's team at the University of Toronto (UofT) has been developing a novel nanophotonic sensing (NPS) platform to detect disease biomarkers with unprecedented sensitivity. This patented technology platform will be repurposed to develop a high sensitivity, rapid near-instantaneous, reagent-free point-of-care testing (PoCT) system for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We (engineering, medicine, and industry) collaboratively propose to demonstrate the viability of rapid reagent-free detection of COVID-19 in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and allied samples using ultra-sensitive multi-wavelength SERS nano-gratings technology, and further, translate this technology for widespread use in a range of public and health settings. Deployment of the EBC Analyzer will improve COVID-19 containment protocols, facilitating rapid positive-case identification in hospitals, nursing homes and the community at large (schools, offices, factories and transportation hubs) and will allow for future disease surveillance.