Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)researchers have 3D printed a sensor that can identify Covid-19 antibodies in around 10 seconds. Produced using additive manufacturing systems supplierOptomec’spatented Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) process, the technology could enable clinicians to instantly, and accurately, detect if somebody is infected with the coronavirus.
Rahul Panat, associate professor of mechanical engineering at CMU, headed up the team that developed the 3D printed sensor.
他说：“我的研究团队正在研究3D打印的高性能传感器，以检测多巴胺，这是一种大脑中的化学物质，当我们意识到我们可以将工作适应Covid-19测试。”“我们转移了研究，将我们的专业知识运用来打击这一毁灭性的大流行。气溶胶射流过程对于产生具有高灵敏度和速度的传感器至关重要。”
Optomec’s Aerosol Jet process
Although commercialized by Optomec, the AJP process was originally born out of aDARPA-funded Mesoscale Integrated Conformal Electronics (MICE) projectin the late 1990s. The project investigated manufacturing processes able to deposit a variety of materials onto virtually any substrate.
In its current form, AJP is capable of producing materials with features as fine as 10 microns, which possess highly precise conductive and non-conductive properties. The process sees the formation of structures using small ink-like droplets of metals that can adhere to readymade surfaces. Some of the applications AJP is utilized within include electronics, aerospace, medical device manufacturing, sensors, and more.
Optomec’s AJP technology has been used by several firms to manufacturehigh-resolution electronic circuits and devices,就像strain sensors,wireless Bluetooth transceivers, andsmall digital-to-analog converter chips.
At the tail-end of last year, Optomec announced thedelivery of its 500th 3D printer，其中约300个由AJP系统组成。
传感器
To create the sensor, the researchers used AJP to precisely and rapidly print ink droplets containing nanoparticles to produce tiny gold electrode pillars, which were then coated with reduced graphene oxide. This rough coating allows the Covid antibodies to bind onto the electrodes.
Due to the specific geometry and surface characteristics of the 3D printed structure, clinicians were able to instantly and accurately detect the Covid-19 antibodies from a tiny drop of blood. Even at extremely low concentrations, two antibodies of the virus could be identified through an electrochemical reaction detected by the sensor within the handheld microfluidic device. The results were then sent immediately to a smartphone, available within 10-15 seconds. The researchers are also investigating how this platform can facilitate the detection of the virus while it is active, in addition to its antibodies.
低成本传感器大小的U.S. quarter, has a provisional patent. The device can also be cleaned very quickly, allowing multiple successive readings and ultimately speeding up the testing process.
The researchers believe this test could not only play a key role in understanding the path and concentration of the Covid-19 pandemic, but could also potentially help to detect other viruses such as Zika, Ebola, and HIV.
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Featured image shows the interface with a mobile phone which provides the results of the antibody test. Image via College of Engineering/Carnegie Mellon University.
