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

使用超灵敏多波长 SERS 纳米光栅快速无试剂检测呼出气体冷凝物中的 COVID-19

• 批准号: 554955-2020
• 负责人: Kherani, Nazir
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=705623
• 关键词: Rapid; Reagent; Free; Detection; COVID

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.

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的纳米光子传感（Nanophotonic Sensing，简称MEMS）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利用，为严重急性呼吸道综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）开发一种高灵敏度、快速、近乎即时、无需试剂的床旁检测（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。