A research group comprising scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH), the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the University Hospital Zurich has developed a new biosensor. According to a press release, this is able to measure the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in the ambient air.
The sensor is based on tiny gold structures on a glass substrate. Artificially produced DNA receptors that match certain RNA sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are grafted onto what are known as gold nanoislands. If the DNA receptors detect RNA strands of the virus, this confirms the presence of the virus.
According to the researchers, the sensor is highly reliable and is able to distinguish the novel coronavirus from other viruses. Tests featuring the very closely related SARS-CoV virus even failed to confound the new biosensor.
A little more time is needed before the sensor can be used. An air suction system to concentrate the aerosols contained in the air and isolate the RNA from the viruses must still be developed. Once the sensor is ready to be launched on the market, it could be used in places where many people congregate. These include railway stations and hospitals, for example.
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