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▲ At the Yonsei University IBS Pavilion, Professor Chun Jin-woo is demonstrating the nano-gene amplification process to diagnose field-centered coronavirus infection. (Photo = Yonsei University) |
[에너지경제신문 송기우 에디터] The research team of the Institute of Basic Science (IBS, President Do-Young Noh) Nanomedicine Research Center Jin-woo Chun (Professor, Yonsei University), Research Fellow Lee Jae-hyun (Professor Lee Hak-ho) of Harvard Medical School, and the research team of Professor Hak-ho Lee of Harvard Medical School, use nanomaterials to accurately detect coronavirus in 17 minutes Developed point-of-care (POC) technology to detect detection.
The standard test method for Corona 19 currently used is the’reverse transcription gene amplification method (RT PCR)’. RT PCR is highly accurate, but it takes several hours or more to detect viruses. The process is complicated and expensive because the specimens have to be transported and diagnosed to hospitals and laboratories equipped with expensive large equipment. There is also a problem that real-time on-site response is difficult.
In order to overcome the limitations of existing diagnostic methods, the researchers developed a’Magneto Plasmonic Nano particle (MPN)’ that combines a plasmonic material and a magnetic material. By applying this to PCR, we developed’nanoPCR’, a point-of-care (POC) corona 19 diagnostic equipment that can detect and amplify high-speed genes. MPN has a magnetic force that enables sample separation as well as a’plasmonic effect’ that changes light into thermal energy in response to light of a specific wavelength. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect even a small amount of genetic material while simultaneously amplifying and detecting genetic material. With nanotechnology, they caught two rabbits with speed and accuracy.
Furthermore, the analysis throughput was improved by applying the’Ferris wheel system’ that can load multiple samples at once. The developed nanoPCR is small and light (15x15x18.5cm, 3kg) and can be easily used in the field.
The researchers conducted a patient specimen test to actually diagnose Corona 19 with nanoPCR. As a result, one patient sample analysis was completed in about 17 minutes, and 150 infections were accurately determined (75 positive, 75 negative samples). It has the accuracy of the RT PCR level (99%), but the diagnostic time is drastically reduced.
“We have developed a PCR technology that easily and quickly diagnoses Corona 19 in the field by improving and miniaturizing the PCR driving method. We expect that it will be used as a useful platform for diagnosing various viral infectious diseases in the future as well as Corona 19.” He said. This research is a laboratory-level research achievement, and follow-up development research is required for commercialization of diagnostic devices and actual deployment.
The research results were published on December 3 at 19:00 (Korean time) in the international academic journal’Nature Biomedical Engineering (IF 17.149)’.
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