EurekAlert December 23, 2019
Currently, virologists estimate that 1.67 million unknown viruses are in animals, a number of which can be transmitted to humans. A team of researchers in the US (Pennsylvania State University, New York University) synthesized a gradient of aligned carbon nanotube forest arrays to capture different viruses and detect them in-situ Raman spectroscopy to identify the viruses based on their individual vibration. They designed and assembled a portable platform that enriches virus particles from several milliliters of clinical samples in a couple of minutes. They added gold nanoparticles to enhance the Raman signal to detect the virus molecule in very low concentrations. Machine learning techniques were used to create a library of virus types. The device, called VIRRION, has a wide range of possible uses for early detection of a virus in the field, livestock and humans. The device is portable, can detect viruses in minutes. It is small and low in cost…read more.