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.

作为过去二十年中第三次有记录的动物传染人类冠状病毒的出现（2002 年的严重急性呼吸综合症，2012 年的中东呼吸综合症），当前的大流行和未来流行病几乎确定的情况需要加强监测和主动筛查。 2019 年新型冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 的最终治疗可能至少需要一年时间。当前使用实时逆转录聚合酶链反应 (rRT-PCR) 的护理标准诊断测试需要大量资源、成本高昂且不准确。迫切需要一种高灵敏度、快速且无标记的替代技术，用于在测试时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一种针对严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 的高灵敏度、快速、近瞬时、无试剂的护理点检测 (PoCT) 系统。我们（工程、医学和工业）共同提议证明使用超灵敏多波长 SERS 纳米光栅技术快速无试剂检测呼出气冷凝物 (EBC) 和相关样本中的 COVID-19 的可行性，并进一步将该技术广泛应用于一系列公共和健康环境。 EBC 分析仪的部署将改进 COVID-19 遏制方案，促进医院、疗养院和整个社区（学校、办公室、工厂和交通枢纽）的阳性病例快速识别，并将为未来的疾病监测做好准备。