A mask-based diagnostic platform for point-of-care screening of Covid-19

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol. 192; p. 113486
• Main Authors: Daniels, John, Wadekar, Shekhar, DeCubellis, Ken, Jackson, George W., Chiu, Alexander S., Pagneux, Quentin, Saada, Hiba, Engelmann, Ilka, Ogiez, Judith, Loze-Warot, Delphine, Boukherroub, Rabah, Szunerits, Sabine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 15.11.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aptamers; Biosensing Techniques; COVID-19; Detection; Electrochemistry; Engineering Sciences; Exhalation; Exhaled breath condensate (EBC); Humans; Point-of-Care Systems; Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Electrochemistry; SARS-CoV-2; Detection; Aptamers; Exhaled breath condensate (EBC); Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113486

Diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 infection using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swabs is now well-established, with saliva-based testing being lately more widely implemented for being more adapted for self-testing approaches. In this study, we introduce a different concept based on exhaled breath condensate (EBC), readily collected by a mask-based sampling device, and detection with an electrochemical biosensor with a modular architecture that enables fast and specific detection and quantification of COVID-19. The face mask forms an exhaled breath vapor containment volume to hold the exhaled breath vapor in proximity to the EBC collector to enable a condensate-forming surface, cooled by a thermal mass, to coalesce the exhaled breath into a 200–500 μL fluid sample in 2 min. EBC RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 genes (E, ORF1ab) on samples collected from 7 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 7 SARS-CoV-2 negative patients were performed. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in 5 out of 7 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. Furthermore, the EBC samples were screened on an electrochemical aptamer biosensor, which detects SARS-CoV-2 viral particles down to 10 pfu mL−1 in cultured SARS-CoV-2 suspensions. Using a “turn off” assay via ferrocenemethanol redox mediator, results about the infectivity state of the patient are obtained in 10 min. •Fabrication of mask-based exhaled breath condensates (EBC) collection system.•Development of an aptamer based selectrochemical sensor for SARS-CoV-2.•Validation of concept on patient samples.