Over the past two decades, infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria have spread worldwide with an increasing number of victims and serious socio-economic consequences. In particular, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants, which appeared at the end of 2019 in Wuhan (China), are the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic with unprecedented historic global impacts. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused loss of life and severe economic and social disruption around the world. Therefore, to prevent the spread of disease or counter a biological weapon attack, there is a need for techniques/equipment/instruments that allow rapid detection at low cost, easy to use, and can be implemented in local areas with low living conditions (mountainous, remote areas). In this regard, biosensors are considered as an ideal device/instrument that provides real-time and continuous detection capabilities.
Integrated with nanotechnology, nano biosensor is considered a new analytical tool to diagnose and detect viruses and bacteria. The project proposes to conduct research to achieve 3 main goals including: Synthesizing low-dimensional nanostructured gold materials; Applying this material in developing lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) technology and nanotechnology-integrated polymerase chain reaction (nanoPCR) technique for on-site qualitative/quantitative detection of viruses and bacteria right in the air environment without requiring the use of low-cost handheld equipment. The sensor based on LFIA technology developed in this research will have an extremely short analysis time (about 10-15 minutes), requires no operating skills and provides qualitative/semi-quantitative results on the spot. The process of separating RNA/DNA of the virus can be done right on the test strip and the RNA/DNA after separation will be quantitatively analyzed by nanoPCR technique using a handheld fluorometer or smartphone connection. In addition, PCR products containing gold nanoparticles in the form of red luminescent clusters will allow the target DNA product bands during the electrophoresis process to be observed under UV light without loading dye, which helps reduce costs and time to read the results and completely eliminate the step of staining DNA with organic pigments. The results of the project will provide advanced techniques that allow rapid detection of pathogens caused by microorganisms in the air environment, thereby minimizing their impact on people’s health, improving public health as well as enhance the country’s ability to respond to pandemics. In addition, the project will provide the domestic market with modified low-dimensional nanostructured gold materials for use in manufacturing biosensors with high sensitivity and selectivity, and for early-stage clinical trials, gradually progress towards Nanomedicine.