Guwahati Breakthrough: Saltwater and Clay Lead the Way in COVID-19 Detection
Scientists at IIT Guwahati Devise Pioneering Clay-Based Approach for Identifying COVID-19 Virus
Here's a game-changer in the world of public health: researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahahati (IITG) have crafted a revolutionary, wallet-friendly method to identify SARS-CoV-2 - the virus behind COVID-19 - using nothing fancier than a type of clay and saltwater.
This ingenious innovation, relying on a sedimentation mechanism to unearth the presence and magnitude of the virus, provides a more straightforward and lower-cost alternative to existing diagnostic methods, such as PCR and antigen testing. The study, recently published in Applied Clay Science, could spearhead a new era in virus detection, especially in resource-constrained regions and during future pandemics.
Led by Prof. T.V. Bharat from the Department of Civil Engineering and Prof. Sachin Kumar from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, the interdisciplinary research team also included Dr. Himanshu Yadav and Ms. Deepa Mehta.
"Think about detecting viruses like watching sand settle in water," says Prof. Bharat. "That's essentially what we've done - using Bentonite clay, a naturally occurring material, enables us to observe the virus-laden solution settling and quantify the virus's presence in real time."
Amid the global death toll wrought by COVID-19, the pandemic has exposed a critical chasm in our ability to detect and track viral infections. Current methods, like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), are highly sensitive but lab-intensive and require hefty gear. On the other hand, antigen tests are swift but lack precision, while antibody tests concern post-infection assessment, highlighting flaws at various levels. Moreover, many of these methods fail to cater to resource-limited settings or massive outbreaks.
Enter Bentonite clay, already renowned for its strength in absorbing pollutants and binding with heavy metals. The IITG team investigated how the clay interacted with the virus in a salt solution at neutral pH and room temperature. Their findings showed the virus attaches to the clay's negatively charged surfaces, significantly altering the settling pattern. This adjustment can be measured to determine both the existence and concentration of the virus - offering a faster solution, potentially deployable for fieldwork.
To assure its credibility, the team compared their technique with traditional virus-detection methods like RT-PCR and plaque assays. The results confirmed both accuracy and consistency. The study initially focused on coronavirus surrogates and Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), but the method already shows promise for spotting other viruses, like the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), which poses a significant threat to the poultry industry.
"This work builds on our earlier explorations in biomedical waste management and virus inactivation," added Prof. Bharat, citing recent publications in Langmuir and support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The team now aims to take this research from the lab to the real world by collaborating with hospitals and biotech companies for clinical trials of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. "With industrial backing, we envision scaling this technology into diagnostic kits that could be utilized in clinics, airports, and rural health centers," said Prof. Sachin Kumar.
It's worth noting that this method might extend to identifying other viruses like the NDV, which affects poultry and results in considerable losses in farming.
The groundbreaking method developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) for detecting SARS-CoV-2 could revolutionize health-and-wellness, especially in resource-constrained regions, not only for COVID-19 but also for other medical-conditions like the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), which poses a significant threat to the poultry industry. This innovative approach, utilizing Bentonite clay and saltwater, could potentially be a game-changer in science and technology, offering a more cost-effective alternative to existing diagnostic methods like PCR and antigen testing.
