NANO-AMBIENCE - 3D nanoporous matrix for ultra-sensitive detection of COVID-19 pathogens and organic compounds

此次合作的目标是开发一种新型传感技术，用于从空气和患者样本中超灵敏地检测COVID-19病原体和有机化合物。该提案针对以下情况：SARS-CoV-2疫苗尚未准备好，但由于国家经济形势以及开放服务和企业的压力，检疫条件变得不那么严格。快速或即时的诊断工具对于识别第二（第三等）本集团将确保能够及时应对COVID-19大流行的新一波疫情，以及时向卫生当局和公众发出警报，使他们能够恢复隔离措施。到目前为止，还没有灵敏的护理点诊断设备可以收集和保存有机化合物，并同时促进在存在的几个分子（例如DNA、RNA或蛋白质）的水平上的高灵敏度检测。目前的PCR方法至少需要几天时间，这在大流行期间是不可接受的长时间。与我们的工业合作伙伴Tornado Spectral Systems（TSS）一起，我们提议探索3D纳米多孔矩阵形式的解决方案，以创建一个传感平台来监测环境中存在的颗粒或有机蒸汽。潜在地，这种物质完美地适合作为可以监测大气周围环境的收集传感器平台。这种3D矩阵可以有效地捕获病原体;甚至单个DNA、RNA或蛋白质分子也可以有效地捕获到这些矩阵提供的纳米多孔结构中。纳米多孔3D矩阵合作项目非常适合此类应用，其中可以使用较小的采样体积。因此，从这项研究中收集的数据将进一步导致创建一个测试平台，用于快速测试小样本量，可以直接耦合到目前的拉曼探针设计的龙卷风光谱系统。因此，我们的目标是开发一种医疗/环境传感器，可以促进有效的采样基板，同时能够捕获病原体，并具有感测气体/蒸汽元素的能力。

The goal of this partnership is to develop a novel sensing technology for ultra-sensitive detection of COVID-19 pathogens and organic compounds from the air and patients' samples. The proposal is targeting the following scenario: a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is not ready yet, but conditions of quarantine become less restrictive due to the situation with the national economy and pressures to open up services and businesses. A quick or instant diagnostic tool becomes crucial to recognize a 2nd (3rd etc.) wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with sufficient timeliness to alert health authorities and the general population so that they can reinstate quarantine measures. As yet, there are no sensitive point-of-care diagnostic devices that may collect and preserve the organic compounds, and simultaneously facilitate highly-sensitive detection at a level of a few molecules presented (e.g. DNA, RNA or protein). The contemporary PCR approach takes at least few days, which during the time of a pandemic is unacceptably long. Together with Tornado Spectral Systems (TSS), our industrial partner, we propose to exploring a solution in the form of 3D nanoporous matrices to create a sensing platform to monitor particles or organic vapor present in the environment. Potentially, such a substance perfectly suites as a collecting sensor platform that can monitor atmospheric ambient environment. Such a 3D matrix can effectively capture pathogens; even single DNA, RNA or protein molecules can be effectively trapped into the nanoporous structure afforded by these matrices. The nanoporous 3D matrices collaboration project is well suited for such applications where smaller sampling volumes can be used. Hence, the data gathered from this study would further lead to creation of a test platforms for rapid testing of small sample volumes that can be directly coupled to the current Raman probes designed by Tornado Spectral Systems. Thus, our goal is to develop a medical/environment sensor that can facilitate an effective sampling substrate and simultaneously is capable of trapping pathogens and has the ability to sense gaseous/vapor elements.