By Ashwini Sakharkar 21 Sep, 2024
Collected at: https://www.techexplorist.com/origami-paper-sensors-help-detect-infectious-diseases/90080/
Researchers at Cranfield University have pioneered an ingenious method for detecting biomarkers in wastewater using origami-paper sensors, revolutionizing the tracking of infectious diseases with just a mobile phone camera. This groundbreaking test device is not only cost-effective but also delivers rapid results, offering the potential to reshape the direction of public health measures in future pandemics.
The analysis of wastewater stands out as a crucial method for gauging the prevalence of infectious diseases within populations. By collecting samples from diverse water treatment facilities nationwide, researchers gain insights into the areas with the highest infection rates.
This approach proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling the tracking of community infection rates and the targeted implementation of public health interventions.
Zhugen Yang, the innovative mind behind the sentinel sensors, has revolutionized the field of biosensing and environmental health. His groundbreaking work, which originated from research conducted in 2020, has resulted in the development of a test capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 (commonly known as COVID-19), Influenza A, and Influenza B in wastewater.
What sets this solution apart is its utilization of a paper-based platform, along with a UV torch or mobile phone camera for analysis. This cutting-edge approach eliminates the need for centralized laboratories and highly trained personnel, as required by conventional methods like the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
With traditional testing procedures necessitating the collection, storage, and transportation of samples in a cold chain to a lab, followed by a lengthy processing period, Zhugen Yang’s innovation offers a quicker, more affordable, and highly accurate alternative.
The new test method is rapid, user-friendly, and portable. Wastewater samples are placed onto a wax-printed paper sheet folded in an ‘origami’ style. The paper contains chemicals that react to disease markers, triggering a fluorescent color to emerge. Using a mobile phone camera, the results can be read and data collected rapidly.
Professor Yang developed this revolutionary method as part of the national COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program. During the height of the pandemic in 2021, field tests were conducted at four quarantine hotels around Heathrow Airport. The entire sample-to-answer process took under 90 minutes, compared to around four hours for a PCR test. The tests were conducted in the basement of one of the hotels using minimal equipment.
Results showed that this new device provides results at least as accurate as the PCR test but at a much lower cost, and can provide an early warning of disease in the community. The device is particularly useful for areas with limited resources due to its ease of use, low cost, and fast results.
“During COVID-19, we proved that fast community sewage analysis is a really effective way to track infectious diseases and help manage public health,” Professor Yang commented. “The simple test we have developed costs just £1 and uses the commonly available camera function in a mobile phone, making it readily accessible. This could be a real game-changer when it comes to predicting disease rates and improving public health in the face of future pandemics.”
The device has been featured at the London Science Museum for its contribution to the National Wastewater Surveillance Programme during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further development is being sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Scheme and a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, with potential applications in tracking new variants and monitoring antimicrobial resistance.
Journal reference:
- Yuwei Pan, Baojun Wang, Jonathan M. Cooper, Zhugen Yang. Paper microfluidic sentinel sensors enable rapid and on-site wastewater surveillance in community settings. Cell Reports Physical Science, 2024; DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102154
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