Live viral spectroscopy for rapid Covid-19 detection applied directly to clinical biofluids without sample processing

我们提议建立一种新的伙伴关系，以推进快速检测COVID-19的创新方法的核心技术，即“活病毒光谱”。该倡议汇集了病毒学、微流体学、机械工程、生物信息学和COVID诊断方面的专家，以及光谱仪器制造商Bruker的全球领导者，以推进并快速商业化新的COVID-19测试方法。该平台基于一项正在申请专利的新微流控技术，该技术将自动测量和浓缩分析物，然后从多达20个样品室独立获得高质量的振动光谱。该系统将与标准拭子和唾液样本兼容。这项工作的主要目标之一是将微流控采样配件与市场上最好的紧凑型红外光谱仪（Alpha II）集成在一起，以创建一个全自动，具有成本效益的护理点诊断系统。在这里，我们开始了与Bruker Ltd.的雄心勃勃和热情的合作，他们将为这个项目的各个层面提供重要的资源和专业知识，并将成为最终发布最终工具的关键合作伙伴。第二个主要目标是开发应用于吸光度光谱的现代生物信息学工具。一旦建立这种伙伴关系，新技术将迅速发展，具有以下优势：(1)完全独立的交钥匙系统，最大限度地减少复杂性，时间延迟和样品管理；(2)对原始样品进行直接测量，消除对使用昂贵和有限试剂盒的复杂实验室技术的依赖；(3)低成本光谱仪、一次性微流体装置及分析附件；(4)基于低姿态系统的高便携系统，用于点护理应用；(5)每个样品预计在2至10分钟内获得快速结果。

We propose a new partnership to advance the core technology for an innovative approach to rapid detection of COVID-19 called "live virus spectroscopy". The initiative brings together experts in virology, microfluidics, mechanical engineering, bioinformatics, and COVID diagnostics with world-leaders in spectroscopic instrument manufactures, Bruker, to advance and rapidly commercialize a new COVID-19 test method. The platform is based on a new patent pending microfluidic technology from Greener and Bégin-Drolet that will automatically meter and concentrate analytes, before obtaining high quality vibrational spectra independently from up to 20 sample compartments. The system will be compatible with standard swab- and saliva samples. One of the main objectives in this work is the integration of the microfluidic sampling accessory with the best compact infrared spectrometer on the market (Alpha II), to create a fully automated, cost-effective point of care diagnostics system. Here we embark on an ambitious and enthusiastic collaboration with Bruker Ltd. who will donate significant resources and expertise to all levels of this project, and who will be a key partner for the eventual launch of the finalized tool. A second major objective is to develop modern bioinformatics tools to be applied to absorbance spectra. Once this partnership is established the new technology will be rapidly developed with the following advantages: (1) Completely stand-alone turn-key system, minimizing complexity, time delays and sample management; (2) Direct measurements on primary samples, eliminating reliance on complex lab based techniques using expensive and limited kits; (3) Low-cost spectrometer, disposable microfluidic devices, and an assaying accessory; (4) Highly portable system based on a low-profile system for point of care applications; (5) Fast results are expected to be achieved in 2 to 10 minutes per sample.