Biosensors in textiles

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Fast Company have developed a new face mask that can identify the Covid-19 carrier in about 90 minutes. Sensor technology can also be used to create clothing that detects various pathogens and toxic chemicals. This platform will allow the use of a new generation of wearable biosensors for emergency services, medical personnel and military personnel.

Diagnostic mask

To make a diagnostic face mask, the researchers placed sublimated SHERLOCK sensors on a paper mask. Sensors are located on the inside of the mask to detect viral particles in the exhaled air.

The mask also contains a small water tank that opens at the push of a button when the wearer is ready to perform the test. The water activates the sublimated components of the SARS-CoV-2 sensor, which analyzes the droplets accumulated on the inside of the mask.

This test system showed sensitivity comparable to the gold standard of diagnostics – PCR test, while it is as fast as antigenic tests that are used for rapid analysis of Covid-19.

The sensors are designed in such a way that they can be activated by the wearer when he is ready to perform a test, and the result is displayed only on the inside of the mask – to preserve confidentiality.

Wearable sensors

The new wearable sensors and diagnostic face mask are based on technology that study author James Collins began developing several years ago. In 2014, he put proteins and nucleic acids on paper to create synthetic gene networks that respond to specific target molecules, and used this approach to create paper test systems for the diagnosis of Ebola and Zika viruses. In 2017, Collins developed another cell-free SHERLOCK sensor system, which is based on CRISPR enzymes and detects nucleic acids with high sensitivity.

These cell-free chain components can be frozen and dried. Lyophilized biomolecules remain stable for many months until they are subject to rehydration. Activated by water, synthetic systems are able to interact with a target molecule, which can be any sequence of RNA, DNA or other types of molecules, and produce a signal, for example, a color change.

In the new study, Collins and his colleagues began working on installing these sensors on textiles. To do this, hundreds of different types of tissues were screened to find out which of them could be compatible with such sensors. The optimal fabric was a combination of polyester and other synthetic fibers.

To create wearable sensors, the researchers placed their sublimated components in a small area of this synthetic fabric, surrounded by a silicone elastomer. This coating prevents evaporation or diffusion of the sample from the sensor.

To demonstrate the technology, the researchers created a jacket that had about 30 sublimated sensor sensors embedded in it. They showed that a small amount of liquid containing viral particles moistens the components of the test system and activates the sensor.

Sensors can be designed to receive various types of signals, including a color change that can be seen with the naked eye, a fluorescent or luminescent signal that can be read using a spectrometer. The researchers have also developed a portable spectrometer that is also embedded in the fabric, it reads the results and wirelessly transmits them to a mobile device.

The researchers have applied for a patent for this technology.

Article by P.Q.Nguyen et al. Wearable materials with embedded synthetic biology sensors for biomolecule detection is published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on MIT materials: New face mask prototype can detect Covid-19 infection.