Jawahar Lal Nehru University to develop device for coronavirus test

Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar has said that the varsity has got the nod for a project on coronavirus research from BIRAC, a public sector enterprise set up by the Department of Biotechnology.

Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar has said that the varsity has got the nod for a project on coronavirus research from BIRAC, a public sector enterprise set up by the Department of Biotechnology.

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has given its approval to JNU under the diagnostics category to develop low-cost portable microfluidics embedded on-chip RT-PCR and microelectrode array coupled point-of-care optoelectronic device for large-scale screening of emerging viral disease like SARS-CoV-2, the VC said.

Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) using a real-time PCR machine, is majorly utilized for detection of coronavirus. It provides accurate lab tests for detecting, tracking, and studying the coronavirus.

"This technology is expensive, requires high-end laboratory-based equipment and is time-consuming. Expert personnel is also needed to operate the instrument and perform the testing in the laboratory. Thus, the capacity of sample handling per day is limited," he said.

In order to overcome the cost and other issues related to the conventional methods, a team led by Dr Jaydeep Bhattacharya from the School of Biotechnology, JNU, has designed a chip-based low-cost portable spatial RT-PCR where the PCR has been integrated with the in-built detection system containing LED and diode detector he explained.

"Moreover, this portable device can also be battery operated and therefore, enabling us to perform a point-of-care measurement. The JNU has already filed an Indian Patent application on this technology. Our technology can complete the testing in about 50 minutes as compared to 120-180 minutes required for conventional real-time PCR," he added.

"Our technology is expected to cost Rs 60,000-1 lakh as compared to 10-15 lakh required for conventional real-time PCR," he said.

The varsity said it is targeting to demonstrate the first prototype testing device in about 4 months.

The team working on the device consists of scientists from Dr. Jaydeep Bhattacharya, Dr. Rupesh Chaturvedi and Dr. Ravi Tandon from JNU, Dr Ranjita Ghosh Moulick from Amity University, Gurgaon,  Dr. Souvik Pal and Dr. Subrata Sarkar from Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Kolkata and Dr. Sameer Gulati from Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, he said.

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