COVID-19 Testing Within 30 Minutes... Korean Researchers Develop World's First Ultra-Fast PCR Testing Method

Korea Institute of Materials Science Develops On-site Rapid Gene Detection Technology Using 3D Optical Amplification Nano Materials

Introduction to Multiplex Gene Diagnostic Array Sensors and Rapid Isothermal PCR Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A technology capable of detecting respiratory infectious disease pathogens, including the COVID-19 virus, within 30 minutes on-site has been developed for the first time in the world by domestic researchers.

The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) announced on the 6th that the research team led by Dr. Park Sung-kyu and Dr. Jung Ho-sang from the Nanobio Convergence Laboratory combined a three-dimensional optical amplification array sensor with isothermal gene amplification testing (PCR) technology to develop the world's first on-site gene PCR technology that can diagnose eight types of genes (four bacteria and four viruses) causing acute respiratory infectious diseases within 30 minutes.

The currently used COVID-19 virus diagnostic technology cannot be analyzed on-site, requiring more than four hours from sample collection to confirmation, making early isolation of infected individuals difficult. To solve this problem, the research team combined isothermal PCR technology on a three-dimensional gold nano-substrate that can amplify molecular optical signals by hundreds of times for the first time in the world. They succeeded in detecting respiratory infectious pathogens' genes within 30 minutes by maintaining a constant temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, the research team developed a three-dimensional array sensor capable of simultaneously analyzing a total of eight genes?four bacteria and four viruses?on a single chip. Specifically, it can detect Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Coronavirus 229E, OC43, NL63, and Human metapneumovirus infections.

The testing method developed by the research team was also validated with clinical samples collected using nasopharynx swabs. Moving forward, large-scale clinical trials on COVID-19 infected patients will be conducted to verify the reliability of the medical device, followed by approval processes with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The 'three-dimensional optical amplification nanomaterial technology' developed by KIMS is already patented in Korea, the United States, and China. The 'on-site rapid gene detection technology' patent has been jointly filed domestically with Samsung Seoul Hospital.

Park Sung-kyu, principal researcher at KIMS, stated, "We have developed core nanomaterials capable of ultra-sensitive gene diagnosis of more than ten types of respiratory infectious pathogens, enabling the development of medical devices that can identify them within 30 minutes on-site." He added, "Through active convergence research with Samsung Seoul Hospital and domestic diagnostic device companies, we will commercialize on-site molecular diagnostic devices early." The research results were published in the international journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.