Determination of the Effect of Saliva on Functionalized Nanoparticles Used to Detect COVID-19 in New Diagnostic Assay Applications

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Cytodiagnostics Inc., located in Burlington ON, is a biotechnology-based company that focuses on providing and developing nanotechnology-derived products and services for the International Life Science and Material Science sectors. The primary products of this company are gold, silver, and iron oxide nanoparticles with various surface functionalities. These bioconjugated nanoparticles have been used as an essential component in many biomedical applications, ranging from catalysis and in vivo tumor targeting to diagnostic assays, such as those used for the rapid detection of COVID-19. Functionalized nanoparticles present distinct optical and physical properties, which are dependent upon their shape, size (i.e. diameter), surface structure, and stability. To evaluate the result of surface modification of new nanoparticle-based products, it is necessary to characterize their size, interaction, and stability. Thus, the overall goal of this proposed collaborative project is to determine the effect of saliva on the physical properties of functionalized nanoparticles that will be used to detect COVID-19 in new diagnostic assay applications. To do this, access to the sample preparation, imaging, and related equipment at Lambton College is required to achieve the project objectives of demonstrating the topography of nanoparticles, obtaining images for statistical data, and investigating the hydrodynamic size and zeta potential of functionalized nanoparticles. The successful nanoparticle research project will benefit Cytodiagnostics by generating new intellectual property, facilitating the introduction of new products to the market, and expanding their portfolio of unique product offerings. It is expected that these benefits will also lead to additional employment opportunities at the company. As well, the results have the potential to enhance Canada's participation in the sizeable global nanoparticle market, which is expected to grow to $7.4 B USD by 2025 and is accelerating due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the development of a new easy to use and rapid point-of-care test will create health benefits for Canadians.