A faster way of detecting Covid-19 has been developed by MIT researchers

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken an enormous toll on industry and society worldwide. Despite the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered having surpassed total confirmed cases of Covid-19, infection rates continue to rise. According to GlobalData, the virus has now spread to 198 countries, with more than 230 million confirmed cases and more than 4.7 million deaths, with the US having more than 43 million confirmed cases and more than 690,000 deaths. As Covid-19 continues to spread at an alarming rate, it is important to improve ways of detecting the virus.

A new sensor for detecting SARS-CoV-2 proteins without antibodies has been developed by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As the virus is infamous for its rate of spreading, the ability of the new sensor to detect Covid-19 within minutes by eliminating the need to send the samples to a lab for analysis will be tremendously helpful for tracking and containing the further spread of the virus. The nanotube sensor technology that has been developed by an MIT lab has been used in the development of the new sensor. The nanotubes, wrapped in various polymers, are able to respond to specific targeted molecules, with the target virus molecules being wedged into the gaps between the loops, and alter the intensity of fluorescence that are produced by the nanotubes. As schools are operating in person and travel has been resumed, it is important to be able to determine quickly whether people should be quarantined or not. Additionally, the technology developed by MIT researchers could be used for improving diagnostic development of potential future pandemics.

With the Covid-19 pandemic continuing around the globe, scientists and researchers continue to improve and develop ways of detecting, mitigating and fighting the virus. While Covid-19 has negatively affected a lot of industrial and social aspects of everyday life, it prompted a rapid development of new technologies, particularly in the healthcare industry.