Rapid, label-free and low-cost diagnostic kit for COVID-19 based on liquid crystals and machine learning.

ABSTRACT: We report a label-free method for detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal swab samples without purification steps and multiplication of the target which simplifies and expedites the analysis process. The kit consists of a textile grid on which liquid crystals (LC) are deposited and the grid is placed in a crossed polarized microscopy. The swab samples are subsequently placed on the LCs. In the presence of a particular biomolecule, the direction of LCs changes locally based on the properties of the biomolecule and forms a particular pattern. As the swab samples are not perfectly purified, image processing and machine learning techniques are employed to detect the presence of specific molecules or quantify their concentrations in the medium. The method can differentiate negative

SUBMITTER: Esmailpour M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9452410 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature