This solution fits the challenge by monitoring and eliminating biohazard in hospitals and other places. Thus, controlling and improving air quality.
This project can also be applied to the International Space Station, providing control over possible pathogens brought into the station and integrating with the current air purifying system.
Our project is inspired by the struggles of health professionals and essential workers who are constantly risking their lives in closed environments during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
As life sciences academics we looked for developing a molecular mechanism that could target and identify the active viral particle. By doing so, the integrated molecular mechanism with the air purifier AiroCide, could warn about the contamination levels of the room and perform an intelligent disinfection.
Our technology is based in an interaction between the protein domain h-ACE2, present on the viral capsule, and an antibody-based bio-FET in order to trigger an electrical signal that would be transmitted to the TiO2-UV air purifier and be quantified. Thus, the air purifier could be activated.
The signal would also warn people about the high viral charges in the room, demonstrating the need for temporary evacuation and monitoring of possible new viral infections. Not only eliminating the pathogen, but also informing about its current dissemination.
Our main problems were the identification of the active virus in the environment, which is protected by a capsule, making it hard to detect its RNA. This problem is common amongst current solutions for this problematic. We have overcome this complication by utilizing the viral protein domain responsible for entering human cells.
Another issue was deciding between two approaches for detection and transduction of signal, and we have decided for the most viable and optimal alternative; the bio-FET system for its simplicity and reliability.
Therefore, with this innovative air monitoring mechanism, countless lives could be save and we would expand our tools to fight other possible pandemics.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwgztioa81w4mhy/31%20May%2C%202020%20-%20Loom%20Recording.mp4?dl=0
BASHIRPOUR, M. Review on Graphene FET and its Application in Biosensing. International Journal of Bio-Inorganic Hybrid Nanomaterials, v. 4, n. 1, p. 5-13, 2015.
MORAWSKA, L. et al. How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised?. Environment International, p. 105832, 2020.
WALLS, A C. et al. Structure, function, and antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Cell, 2020.
NASA sources
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/advasc.html
https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2013/cg_4.html