Thermoelectric sensor for detecting viruses like SARS-CoV-2

Purdue University researchers have ideated a thermoelectric sensor which selectively identifies exothermic viral pathogen reactions utilizing the Seebeck effect. The sensor offers fast and precise readouts through detecting temperature changes through a voltage readout after interactions of pathogen antigen/antibody. Silicon material is used as the sensor's base material facilitating scale up through standard device fabrication processes. Modification of this technology to pathogen RNA/complementary DNA hybridization amplify the voltage change in patients with low viral load. This sensor can be used for a wide range of diseases with high epidemic potential increasing the utility.

Advantages:

-Fast and precise diagnostics

-Label free viral detection

-No RNA preparation needed

-Easy scale-up manufacturing

Potential Applications:

-COVID-19 diagnostic

-Epidemic testing

TRL: 3

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Thermoelectric sensor, viral pathogen detection, Seebeck effect, antigen/antibody interaction, silicon sensor, scale-up manufacturing, fast diagnostics, label-free detection, COVID-19 diagnostic, epidemic testing, biosensing, COVID-19, Health, Medical, SARS-CoV-2, thermoelectric sensing, Virus Detection