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January 1, 2023
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February 1, 2023

Microfluidic Smartphone Dongle Detects COVID-19

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Scientists at Rice University have developed a portable device that detects SARS-CoV-2 in a blood drop and does not require a laboratory to process the sample; this test can be done anywhere in under an hour. It works by a microfluidic assay that binds SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein to antibody-studded magnetic nanobeads.

Dr. Lillehoj, a researcher involved in this project, explains that if the virus protein binds to the magnetic bead, that, in turn, activates a sensor that generates an electrical current and gives a positive signal to the sensor. Then, the results will be displayed by plugging the device into a cell phone.

Data has shown that it can spot deficient protein levels, suggesting that it could function as a sensitive diagnostic tool. The slight drop of blood drawn from a finger prick brings an alternative to patients who find nasal and throat swabs uncomfortable and avoid assessing their COVID-19 status.

Microfluidics and AI Microscopy for Hemoglobin Measurements

A great collaboration between the Indian Institute of Science and SigTuple Technologies has yielded a tremendous and inexpensive development that measures hemoglobin levels in small-volume blood samples. This achievement is powered by the need to facilitate the regular and readily accessible measurement of hemoglobin, a key biomarker in a wide range of conditions such as anemia and pulmonary fibrosis. This test aims to make this test more accessible; the total cost of the chips is 0.136 USD each, including the required reagents.
The assay consists of a microfluidic chip that runs a sodium lauryl sulfate assay that recognizes hemoglobin in the drop of blood. A green LED illuminates the essay and absorbs light at this wavelength, and the AI-imaging system determines the amount of hemoglobin. This development has excellent potential as it can be further extended to detect other essential biomarkers in the blood, such as cholesterol and glycated hemoglobin.

References

  1. 1. https://rb.gy/rn2ytr
  2. 2. https://rb.gy/vsk6cc
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