Ball Wave Inc. (NICHe venture) issued a press release.
It is said that the novel coronavirus is transmitted through airborne aerosols, but methods and devices (gas phase virus sensors) capable of real-time testing of virus concentrations in the air have not yet been developed. Furthermore, the most convenient testing method currently used for rapid detection of new infections is the immunochromatographic antigen test kit, but testing takes more than 15 minutes. This is a major challenge in measures to combat COVID-19.
Aerosols released into the ambient air through conversation or coughing move through space at high speeds of several tens of centimeters per second. If a sensor is within 1 meter, the aerosols are expected to reach the sensor within 10 seconds and the viruses in the aerosols are believed to be retained on the sensor surface in a water-coated state. Therefore, Ball Wave Inc. has devised a sensor that fixes antibodies or aptamers to the surface of its proprietary Ball SAW sensor and captures viruses by reacting with the spike proteins of the retained viruses. The response time of this sensor is less than 10 seconds, and even if the virus is present in small amounts and the sensor response is small, the response is amplified by the innovative principle of the Ball SAW sensor, so it is expected to enable highly sensitive detection. Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. will combine the surface treatment technology it has cultivated in the development of automotive interior and exterior parts with Tohoku University’s expertise in breath omics, a highly accurate diagnostic method that detects viruses and inflammatory proteins in exhaled breath using mass spectrometry, to advance joint development.
The 21st century is said to be the century of pandemics. We aim to provide the world with a ball SAW virus sensor that enables the detection of viruses in the environment and rapid, non-invasive virus testing as soon as possible.
Related materials:
Tohoku University press release page (Japanese) (click here)