A Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Technology for Rapid Testing of COVID-19

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 has taken a large number of lives since 2019 and the death toll continues to increase all over the world. Recent data reports that about 27 lacs of people are infected with this virus till date and around 2 lacs are dead due to this pandemic. The situation in India is no way better. In India, almost all the states have become victim of this deadly pandemic. Considering the enormous population in India, citizens here are facing acute shortage of detection kits and many are dying even before the knowledge of their infection. The present treatise proposes a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based technique for simple and rapid detection of COVID-19. The technique will be inexpensive, selective, reusable and easy to handle. It has been already implemented in our laboratory in order to detect the taste contributing agents found in tea. This article discusses the detailed methodology and the resultant analytical characteristic of the sensors developed so far and also outlines the suitability of the MIP technique towards fabrication of testing kits for rapid detection of COVID-19.

Point-of-Care Diagnostics of COVID-19: From Current Work to Future Perspectives

“…Recently, MIP-based SARS-CoV-2 detection has been suggested [105] and a preprint has appeared in which a MIP-based nanoparticle has been fabricated starting from the RBD of a SARS-CoV-2 S protein [106]. Such "monoclonal-type" plastic antibodies have been then tested only for in vitro rebinding of the RBD and hemocompatibility (for infusion in the patients).…”

PREFACE on the Special Issue ‘Technologies for Fighting COVID-19’

“…Duryodhan et al ( 2020 ) aimed at developing a diverging microchannel based micro-PCR, by utilizing the unique distribution of heat in a suitable geometry. Chatterjee and Bandyopadhyay ( 2020 ) developed a technique for detecting taste-contributing agents that is envisaged to have application in the detection of COVID-19. Paul et al ( 2020 ) proposed a diagnostic test based on a paper fluidic device.…”

“…The device could diagnose bacterial infections through molecular tests. Nag et al ( 2020 ) provided an overview of evanescent wave absorbance and localized surface plasmon resonance-based optic fiber platform for potential screening of COVID-19.…”

Nano- and biosensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2: challenges and opportunities

“…G-quadruplex based biosensors have the potential to replace the antibody-based detection and to develop the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens 40. Molecular imprinted polymers based sensors with unique selectivity and sensitivity can be employed for detection of SARS-CoV-2 41. Previously, the detection of Zika virus, Ebola virus or Norovirus has been successfully performed by selecting their DNA or virus specific aptamers as recognition element, respectively.…”

“…For developing the sensing materials, polymers belonging to the acrylic group like acrylamide, acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate and their mixtures are preferred. They can be additionally reinforced on graphene or conducting metal oxides for offering improved and enhanced conductivity 41. Indeed, Molecular imprinting technology can be considered as suitable strategy to apply molecularly imprinted NPs with unique capability for selective recognition and binding the spike protein receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 42.…”