SBIR Phase I: Handheld Detection of COVID-19 With Simple Biosensor Devices for Environmental Monitoring

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种廉价，易于使用和便携式的测试，用于检测环境中的SARS-CoV-2。用于环境检测SARS-CoV-2的便携式检测试剂盒将能够广泛和主动地识别病毒存在的地方，从而就社交距离和相关的COVID-19大流行缓解措施做出明智的决定。该设备将由电池供电，操作简单，并将直接报告结果。该技术可以在未来扩展到其他病原体。SBIR第一阶段项目将开发一种快速的现场SARS-CoV-2环境检测技术，该技术可由非技术用户使用便携式手持设备进行。该技术集成了一种简单易用的一锅法测定，用于同时等温扩增和检测核糖核酸。 该项目将建立一种检测方法，可以特异性地检测SARS-CoV-2基因组RNA，冷冻干燥以消除冷链物流，并可以在一小时内运行;并改进电池供电的手持设备，以提供温度控制，报告检测结果，并允许在现场进行测试。该提案将通过一项技术计划来解决与分析处理、灵敏度、特异性、货架稳定性、运行时间和设备设计相关的技术障碍，该技术计划涉及分析组件优化和设备设计以及测试周期。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop an inexpensive, easy-to-use, and portable test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment. A portable test kit for the environmental detection of SARS-CoV-2 would enable widespread and proactive identification where the virus is present, allowing for informed decisions regarding social distancing and related COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures. The proposed device will be battery-powered, support easy operation, and will report results directly.The technology can be extended to other pathogens in the future. This SBIR Phase I project will develop a rapid, on-site SARS-CoV-2 environmental detection technology that can be performed by non-technical users with a portable handheld device. The technology integrates a simple-to-use and one-pot assay for the simultaneous isothermal amplification and detection of ribonucleic acids. This project will establish an assay that can specifically detect SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA, be freeze-dried to eliminate cold chain logistics, and can be run in an hour; and refine a battery-powered handheld device to provide temperature control, report on assay test results, and allow tests to be performed in the field. The proposal will address technical hurdles related to assay handling, sensitivity, specificity, shelf-stability, run time and device design through a technical plan that involves assay component optimizations and device design and testing cycles.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.