One of the greatest things about a human life is its openness to improve under every possible situation. This progressive tendency on its part has allowed us to hit upon some huge milestones, with technology appearing as a major member of the stated group. The reason why technology gets to enjoy such an esteemed stature in our lives is inspired by its unique skill-set, which introduced us to a reality that we couldn’t have imagined otherwise. Nevertheless, if we care to be honest for a second, we’ll see how the whole runner was also very much predicated upon the way we used those skills in a real-world setting. The latter component was, in fact, what gave the creation a spectrum-wide presence, including a well-timed appearance on our healthcare block. Technology’s foray into healthcare was so perfect in regards to the timing, as it came right when the sector was beginning to struggle against its own obsolete structure. Fortunately, a lot of the stated problem was solved under the new regime, but even after realizing a pivotal feat of this sort, the emerging medtech concept will continue to bring all the right goods to the table. The same has gotten more and more apparent over the recent past, and a new development should only make that trend stronger moving forward.
The researching at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, has successfully developed a specialized DNA system, which is designed to catch Sars-Cov-2 particles, and subsequently, bind to the relevant spike protein. According to certain reports, the technology uses aptameters to facilitate the binding process, and once that process is completed, it produces an intense fluorescent signal. This signal, you guessed it, is the ultimate reference point for our assessment. As for how we can measure it, the results indicated by the stated signal can be easily measured with the help of a handheld fluorimeter. Although it boasts similar sensitivity levels to what widely-trusted PCR tests are able to deliver, the device in question is a much cheaper, and as a ripple effect, more accessible alternative.
“This platform combines the sensitivity of PCR and the speed and low cost of antigen tests,” said Xing Wang, one of the developers involved. “We need tests like this for a couple of reasons. One is to prepare for the next pandemic. The other reason is to track ongoing viral epidemics — not only coronaviruses, but also other deadly and economically impactful viruses like HIV or influenza.”
Now, acting as a diagnostic is surely integral to its purpose, but going by the available details, the device is also well-equipped to disable the virus, a feature that immediately widens its prospects.
When quizzed regarding how their approach is different from many others who are trying to make such diagnosis more convenient, Wang responded by saying:
“I had this idea at the very beginning of the pandemic to build a platform for testing, but also for inhibition at the same time,” Wang said. “Lots of other groups working on inhibitors are trying to wrap up the entire virus, or the parts of the virus that provide access to antibodies. This is not good, because you want the body to form antibodies. With the hollow DNA net structures, antibodies can still access the virus.”
Priced at around $1.26 per test, the system doesn’t require any complex supporting equipment, making it a perfect fit for point-of-care use.
