Droplet-PCR point-of-care device for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 and differentiation from influenza

诊断病毒感染的金标准方法是实时逆转录聚合物链反应（rRT-PCR）。然而，几乎所有的rRT-PCR测试都需要由熟练的人员在实验室环境中使用昂贵的设备进行，这使得它远离即时护理（Point-of-Care，简称POS）设备，无法实现远程和家庭PCR测试。迫切需要下一代基于PCR的检测方法，不仅能够快速、非常准确地检测SARS-CoV-2，而且能够区分不同的病毒和细菌感染，因此需要更好的多重和多靶点检测。我们将使用集成的数字微滴微流体和微电子系统开发一种低成本、便携式、自主和高度准确的微滴PCR（d-PCR）设备，该设备可以检测SARS-CoV-2并将其与其他病毒感染区分开来。该项目的交付成果将是：1）生产针对SARS-CoV-2 RNA的功能性RNA扩增引物; 2）开发用于选择性区分SARS-CoV-2 RNA的d-PCR方案。 3）增加该领域的知识产权，并利用不同类别知识产权的背景专利，以及4）通过在高水准的生物医学工程杂志上发表文章传播技术进步和科学知识。该项目中开发的d-PCR和检测方案将有助于实施新的即时检测，以快速检测SARS-CoV-2并将其与其他病毒感染区分开来，从而满足加拿大对病毒性传染病爆发的快速反应需求。一个博士具有生物医学工程背景的学生将在项目过程中接受培训，并直接获得所需资金的支持。

The gold standard method for the diagnosis of viral infections is real-time reverse transcription Polymeric Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR). However, almost all rRT-PCR tests need to be done by skilled personnel in the lab setting and with expensive devices, making it far from a point-of-care (PoC) devices to enable remote- and home-based PCR testing. There is a pressing need for the next generation of PCR-based detection assays that not only are able to perform rapid, very accurate, and for PoC and home-based uses for detection of SARS-CoV-2 but also capable of differentiating among different viral and bacterial infections, necessitating the need to better multiplexing and multi-target testing.In the partnership with Accumol in this project, we will use integrated digital droplet microfluidics and microelectronic systems to develop a low-cost, portable, autonomous, and highly accurate droplet PCR (d-PCR) device that can detect SARS-CoV-2 and differentiate it from other viral infections. The deliverable of this project would be to 1) produce functional RNA amplification PoC device-specific to target SARS-CoV-2 RNAs; 2) develop d-PCR protocols useful for selective differentiation of COVID-19 from other viral infections; 3) increase intellectual property in this area and leverage the background patents on distinct categories of IPs, and 4) disseminate technological progress and scientific knowledge through publications in a high-caliber biomedical engineering journal. The d-PCR and detection protocols developed in this project will contribute to implementing new point-of-care testing for rapidly detecting SARS-CoV-2 and differentiate it from other viral infections, addressing the need for Rapid Response to viral infectious disease outbreaks in Canada. One Ph.D. student with a background in biomedical engineering will be trained over the course of the project, directly supported by the requested funding.