Exhaled breath may reveal SARS-CoV-2 through virus-catching sensor
Nian Sun, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern, has spent years perfecting a device that he believes could change the way diseases are detected.
A specialized sensor created by Northeastern University’s Nian Sun could soon offer a faster and more user-friendly method for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Originally developed to identify airborne traces of illegal drugs and explosives, the sensor leverages molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) technology to capture viral particles through breath.
The device, which resembles a Breathalyzer, produces results nearly instantly and is noninvasive. During the pandemic, this alternative to traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests proved valuable due to the logistical challenges of swabbing and sample shipping. Sun's patent, granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, acknowledges the device's novelty and practical utility.
MIPs are engineered with tiny cavities that match the shape of their target molecules, capturing and altering electrical resistance when viral particles interact with the sensor. Pardis Sadeghi, a key researcher on the project, spent years refining the sensor's sensitivity and selectivity, ensuring it primarily detects the spike protein associated with SARS-CoV-2.
The sensor's effectiveness hinges on early infection stages when viral shedding is highest. While currently in the testing phase for clinical use, the technology's adaptability allows for future applications in detecting other disease markers, including glucose for diabetes and cancer-related RNA molecules.
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