GE is working on biosensors that can be integrated into smartphones and other devices and allow the detection of Covid-19. The potential of these tiny devices is comparable to what could be achieved only through large equipment structures and laboratories.

Current diagnostics for the coronavirus rely primarily on biological tests of potentially infected individuals. Typically, nasal or throat swabs are used. However, GE Corporate Research and Development points out that with a dedicated sensor, the virus can be identified at minute levels of nanoparticles.

According to the the project that is being developed for this purpose, “the available tools for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus require extensive sample preparation and/or expensive laboratory equipment to obtain accurate results”. The proposal for biosensors for detecting Covid-19 is to “build an array of touch-screen sensors to directly capture, detect and identify model SARS-CoV-2 virus particles with minimal false alarms”. The researchers responsible received a two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health for project development.

Smaller than the tip of a finger

The tiny sensors, smaller than a fingertip, could detect the presence of nanoparticles of the Covid-19 virus on smartphone screens, tables and other surfaces. In this scenario, it is possible to understand the integration of biosensors into phones, security keypads, computer keyboards or even wearable devices.

The accuracy in detecting Covid-19 using these biosensors designed by GE and integrated into smartphones, for example, would be equivalent to that found using large, high-quality analytical instruments. However, these structures are usually “the size of a microwave oven.” As pointed out Radislav Potyrailo, the lead scientist involved, “we train them (the biosensors) to detect a specific thing and they are able to do that well.”

Part of the challenges with Covid-19 has been understanding and controlling the spread of infection, especially when it comes to asymptomatic cases. Focusing on detection of the virus on devices and surfaces we interact with every day could be a key part of controlling its spread. Smartphones could be an important start to much of this work.

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