Development of electronic devices for virus detection applications

在护理点测试中检测病毒病原体的开创性重要性推动了对更敏感、低成本、可扩展和坚固的传感器的搜索。大规模和经济地生产有效的病毒、细菌和其他病原体检测设备，可以在促进疾病的早期诊断和缓解方面发挥关键作用。具体地说，对于SARS-CoV-2病毒，有效的检测技术在遏制这种高传染性疾病的传播方面发挥了重要作用。目前用于检测SARS-CoV-2的金标准方法是实时逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)[1，2]。然而，这种分子诊断方法昂贵、耗时且不方便，需要训练有素的专业人员进行测试[2]。因此，对准确、快速和廉价的护理点诊断技术的迫切需求尚未得到满足。本项目的目的是研究生物和电子世界中的材料、器件和电子现象，以开发一种高效、低成本、坚固耐用、紧凑、快速的免疫诊断检测设备，特别是电子器件，即场效应晶体管和电化学晶体管。这些装置可在其活性通道或金属电极中的电子聚合物基质中包含病原体结合适体或抗体。目标是检测FET通道中的病原体，如引起病毒(流感、RSV、COVID)的呼吸道感染，并研究每种病原体的电容式瞬变特征。该设备的设计将进一步包括i)在同一芯片上进行多路复用以诊断病毒，以及ii)向传感器反馈人工智能回路，以提高设备的准确性。一项广泛的研究将调查设备暴露在病原体下时的生物/化学变化，有助于建立检测机制、材料组合和它们的界面之间的关系。在这个项目中，达勒姆大学工程系将探索大量的器件制造和几何概念。对唾液和血液样本的直接通道分析将在兰开斯特大学与专业病毒学家Muhammad Munir博士和他的研究小组合作进行。穆尼尔博士还支持该项目，免费使用他们的实验室和材料，并前往兰开斯特。CPI-Sedgefield对用于护理点诊断的可打印传感器技术非常感兴趣，因此有一个原型开发平台，如果项目成功，将有兴趣支持进一步的资金竞标和商业化。总而言之，该项目解决了基于晶体管的新型生物传感器开发中的挑战，这种传感器能够实现高灵敏度和选择性的小型化护理点检测技术。《生物传感器与生物电子学》，第163,112274,2020年。植物科学前沿，11,2020[3]Seo，G.等人。《ACS Nano》，14(4)，5135,2020。

The seminal importance of detecting virus pathogen at point-of-care tests has driven the search for more sensitive, low-cost, scalable, and robust sensors. The mass and economical production of efficient detection devices for viruses, bacteria and other pathogens can play a crucial role in facilitating early diagnosis and mitigation of diseases. Specifically, for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, effective detection techniques have played a significant role in containing the spread of the highly infectious disease. The gold standard method currently employed for SARS-CoV-2 detection is real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) [1, 2]. However, this molecular diagnosis method is expensive, time consuming and inconvenient, requiring highly trained professionals to conduct tests [2]. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need for point-of-care diagnostic techniques that are accurate, rapid and inexpensive. The aim of this project is to study the materials, devices and the electronic phenomenon in biological and electronics world in order to develop an efficient, low-cost, robust, compact and rapid immunodiagnostic testing device, specifically the electronic devices i.e., field effect transistors and electrochemical transistors. These devices may contain pathogen binding aptamers or antibodies in an electronic polymer matrix in their active channels or metal electrodes. The target is to detect pathogens such as respiratory infection causing viruses (influenza, RSV, COVID) in the FET channel and study the electro-capacitive transient signature for each pathogen. The device design will further include i) multiplexing to diagnose viruses on the same chip and ii) artificial intelligence feedback loop to the sensor for improved accuracy of the device. An extensive study will investigate the bio/chemical changes in device upon exposure to the pathogens, aiding in the formulation of a relationship between the detection mechanism, material combination and their interfaces. In this project, a multitude of device fabrication and geometry concepts will be explored at the Department of Engineering, Durham University. The direct channel analysis of saliva and blood samples will be performed at the Lancaster University, in collaboration with specialist virologist Dr Muhammad Munir and his research group. Dr Munir is also supporting the project with free access to their lab, materials and travelling to Lancaster. CPI-Sedgefield has a deep interest in the printable sensor technology for point-of-care diagnostics and therefore has a platform for prototype development and would be interested in supporting further funding bids and commercialisation, if the project is successful. To summarise, the project addresses the challenges in development of novel transistor-based biosensors that enables highly sensitive and selective, miniaturized point-of-care detection technology.References:[1] Morales-Narváez, E. et al. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 163, 112274, 2020.[2] Poghossian, A. et al. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 2020.[3] Seo, G. et al. ACS Nano, 14(4), 5135, 2020.