Project NANO-COVID-TEST
The IFO - IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, is a partner in the project coordinated by Sapienza University of Rome, entitled: "Nano-photonic, label-free triage for serum anti-SARS CoV2 antibodies dedicated to non-infectious hospital settings (NANO-COVID-TEST)."
The purpose of the NANO-COVID-TEST project is to develop an innovative tool for the rapid and efficient detection of antibodies characteristic of the response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study is coordinated by the Molecular Photonics Laboratory of the Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering (SBAI) of SAPIENZA University of Rome and will involve several Diagnostics and Research Laboratories of the IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute (IRE).
It aims to develop a portable device based on disposable plastic photonic crystal biochips targeting to immobilise viral proteins which the immune response is directed against. The particular photonic configuration will allow a completely new combination of rapid on-site refractometric detection with end-point fluorescence, a feature currently absent in all commercialized techniques applied to the serological diagnosis of COVID-19-positive patients.
The project aims to provide health care providers, a unique and versatile tool capable of accurately detecting antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 directly from the subject’s plasma, in less time, with higher resolution and at lower cost than currently available. These aspects are especially crucial for those non-infectious hospital facilities that could use this method as a rapid screening to filter hospital admissions. Just think of the impact that potentially infectious subjects may have on fragile populations such as those represented by cancer patients. Finally, the complete modularity of the system is designed to extend its application to a very wide class of other markers present in viral, infectious, and neoplastic diseases such as antibodies, antigenic proteins, microRNAs, and other metabolites.
The joint research group (SAPIENZA-IRE) will provide all the know-how necessary to develop a new rapid (25min) serological test based on an optical readout platform and nanophotonic biochips. These biochips will have the task to detect SARS-CoV-2 induced antibody titers of the antibody-mediated response to SARS-CoV-2 virus, and in particular the quantitative determination of serum neutralizing antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA) against virus-specific proteins such as S and/or N. The strong innovativeness of the proposal lies in the particular photonic configuration that combines real-time refractometric detection with end-point fluorescence. This feature, is absent in all commercially available and currently used techniques for the diagnosis of serum-positivity to COVID-19. It is evident, therefore, that technologies such as the one proposed in this project will, inescapably, become a crucial aspect of pandemic management today and in the future.
The total cost of the grant-eligible project, on the expenditure of which Lazio Innova has granted a maximum grant funding of 100 percent, is €149,979.00. The funding resources are from the Public Notice "Research Groups 2020 POR FESR LAZIO 2014-2020." Determination G08487 of 19/07/2020 (BURL No. 93 of 23/07/2020 - amended by Determination No. G10624/2020 - BURL No. 116 of 22/09/2020). Prot. Application No. A0375-2020-36528, approved by Determination No. G04014 of 13/04/2021 published in BURL No. 38 of 15/04/2021, CUP: B85F21001440002.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to consolidate economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting any disparities that may exist between regions.
Go to the page