Global pandemics are fabled to arrive at least once in a century, and whenever they do arrive, they end up altering our lives forever. A pandemic doesn’t just bring a deadly disease that is out to take our life, but it also brings a wide assortment of habits with it. Covid 19 was no different in this regard. Who would have thought that one day this generation wouldn’t be allowed to leave their houses without a mask or that the sanitizers will take over the world? No one! Nonetheless, it happened, and just like our ancestors, we had to adapt to these new circumstances and create a set of habits that will align with the same. Just like humans in general, medical sector also had to acclimatize itself with these strange times, and after getting overwhelmed by a sudden surge in Covid 19 cases initially, it looks like the sector is finally able to hold its own against this life-threatening virus. The creation of a vaccine can be viewed as the biggest example of it. However, there are other elements too that are playing their role to the best of their ability in this fight against an invisible adversary. For instance, it’s a widely understood fact that rapid testing is of utmost important when it comes to Covid 19, so therefore ever since the outbreak of this virus, medical scientists have been on a constant lookout for better testing strategies. They did find many successful ones, but the latest one beats them all. Recently, researchers at the Harvard Wyss Institute and MIT jointly developed a face mask that can detect SARS-CoV 2 in a wearer’s breath with just a press of a button.
The process is basically facilitated by dried molecular components along with CRISPR-based technology, and a lateral flow assay strip for detecting the virus. Once you have pressed the button on your mask, you’ll have your results within 90 minutes with the accuracy of a standard PCR test. This technology is known as wearable freeze-dried cell-free (wFDCF). Comprised of molecular components that cells use to manipulate and recognize nucleic acids and proteins, which are incorporated into fabric and sensors for forming wearable devices, this technology gives all the impression to become a dependable cog in the fight against Covid 19. Nevertheless, the composition of it makes it useful in any environment containing harmful pathogen.
