-Anuska Sen, Amity University Kolkata
The tremendous dire situation that the whole world is facing during the Covid-19 pandemic needs some solution to it in an easy, fast and accessible manner. Dozens of diagnosis methods have been developed to detect the infected cases, but most have failed due to drawbacks such as costly instruments, non-functional in case of the rapid mutations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and lot more.
With the invention of a simple naked-eye calorimetric assay method by researcher Parikshit Mishra and team, the diagnosis method will supposedly be made simpler. This method works on the principle where the N-gene of SARS-CoV-2 is being specifically targeted by gold nanoparticles modified with appropriate oligonucleotides. On addition of suitable chemicals to the RNA samples a clear precipitate is seen which gives a clear indication of the infection. This method allows detection of the disease within 10 minutes without the use of any advanced instruments.
This article has been published in ACS Nano
Source: Moitra P, Alafeef M, Dighe K, Frieman MB, Pan D. Selective Naked-Eye Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Mediated by N Gene Targeted Antisense Oligonucleotide Capped Plasmonic Nanoparticles. ACS Nano. 2020;14(6):7617-7627. doi:10.1021/acsnano.0c03822
Hi Anuska,
Very important and relevant info.
Complicated topic nicely summarized. Keep it up.
Is this product commercially available as testing tool?
Thank you for your valuable response.
Dr. Dipanjan Pan (lead author of the study) has said in a press release that the test would be made available at different daycare centers, hospitals, and other medical institutes at low prices.
He also stated that he would have a meeting with the US-FDA to pursue emergency use authorization (EUA) for the test.
If the product meets the required EUA criteria and FDA’s efficiency, then this will let the product be marketed easily without going through the various stages of clearance.
Source: https://www.firstpost.com/health/covid-19-testing-gold-nanoparticle-based-test-kit-can-give-results-within-10-minutes-8435441.html
@AnuskaSen
Is this type of testing/detection approved by the FDA?? Any information on it!!
Thank you for your valuable response.
Dr. Dipanjan Pan (lead author of the study) has said in a press release that the test would be made available at different daycare centers, hospitals, and other medical institutes at low prices.
He also stated that he would have a meeting with the US-FDA to pursue emergency use authorization (EUA) for the test.
If the product meets the required EUA criteria and FDA’s efficiency, then this will let the product be marketed easily without going through the various stages of clearance.
Source: https://www.firstpost.com/health/covid-19-testing-gold-nanoparticle-based-test-kit-can-give-results-within-10-minutes-8435441.html
@AnuskaSen
Very important information in the present era , but whether is it available in India for testing purpose of covid 19 for common people ? If so how much cost is involved ?
Very well said, keep it up