Development of a simple and affordable disposable device for rapid diagnosis of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

• Grant number: 20/07539-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2020
• End date: March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ronaldo Censi Faria
• Grantee: Tássia Regina de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/04635-4 - Development of a simple and affordable disposable device for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), AP.R

Abstract

With the recent pandemic caused by the new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), an early diagnosis and isolation of infected patients have become essential measures to reduce and delay viral spread. However, the insufficient number of diagnostic tests for the infection has limited the ability of clinicians and public health specialists to accurately determine and track the prevalence, severity, mortality and transmissibility of this disease. In this project, it is proposed the development of a disposable, simple and low-cost microfluidic device for the detection of three RNA sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus N1 gene, aiming at the quick and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19. The performance of our research group has been guided by the development of devices like this for the detection of protein biomarkers aiming at the diagnosis of diseases with the partnership of research groups in the health area, which has generated important results with a strong impact on innovation. Furthermore, it is proposed to build a microfluidic platform using easily accessible materials and simple equipment, which will allow the analysis of different samples simultaneously. The device will consist of several microfluidic channels, each containing four independent sensor regions, which will allow detection by electrochemiluminescence of the three RNAs of the virus in addition to a human RNA, which will be used as the device's internal control. The applicability of the devices to be built will be evaluated initially in standard samples containing synthetic sequences (positive and negative) and, in a second moment, in samples from patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 supplied by the UFSCar University Hospital. The project also aims at training human resources at different levels and publishing articles in indexed national and international journals as well as filing patents. Therefore, the development of a device for rapid, selective and low-cost detection of viral RNA will allow the early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while meeting an international public health need. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE OLIVEIRA, TASSIA REGINA; LEITE, TAISE HELENA OLIVEIRA; MIRANDA, WYLLIAN NEVES; MANULI, ERIKA REGINA; LEAL, FABIO; SABINO, ESTER; POTT-JUNIOR, HENRIQUE; MELENDEZ, MATIAS; FARIA, RONALDO CENSI. Molecular test for COVID-19 diagnosis based on a colorimetric genomagnetic assay. Analytica Chimica Acta, v. 1257, p. 7-pg., 2023-04-06. (20/04635-4, 20/07539-6)

NASCIMENTO, EVAIR D.; FONSECA, WILSON T.; DE OLIVEIRA, TASSIA R.; DE CORREIA, CAMILA R. S. T. B.; FACA, VITOR M.; DE MORAIS, BEATRIZ P.; SILVESTRINI, VIRGINIA C.; POTT-JUNIOR, HENRIQUE; TEIXEIRA, FELIPE R.; FARIA, RONALDO C.. COVID-19 diagnosis by SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein detection in saliva using an ultrasensitive magneto-assay based on disposable electrochemical sensor. SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL, v. 353, p. 9-pg., 2022-02-15. (19/03943-0, 16/25798-3, 20/12920-0, 20/04635-4, 20/07539-6)

CATUNDA, LUCAS GOMES DA SILVA; DO PRADO, THIAGO MARTIMIANO; DE OLIVEIRA, TASSIA REGINA; DOS SANTOS, DANIEL JUNIOR ALMEIDA; GOMES, NATHALIA OEZAU; CORREA, DANIEL SOUZA; FARIA, RONALDO CENSI; MACHADO, SERGIO ANTONIO SPINOLA. SARS-CoV-2 detection enabled by a portable and label-free photoelectrochemical genosensor using graphitic carbon nitride and gold nanoparticles. Electrochimica Acta, v. 451, p. 10-pg., 2023-03-27. (22/02164-0, 20/04635-4, 18/22214-6, 20/09587-8, 20/07539-6)