(732u) Wirelessly Detect COVID Viruses, Bacteria, and Cells on Graphene Flakes-Improved Nano-Biosensor

In COVID-19 diagnosis, a major challenge is to develop a new methodology and a new technology that can enable us to detect live coronavirus particles simply in real-time at ultralow-cost for effectively mitigating the pandemic. As only live coronavirus is responsible for transmission and spread of disease, all ELISA- and PCR-based diagnoses cannot distinguish whether the virus is live (i.e. infectious) and whether the infected person needs quarantine, or not. To meet this long-unmet challenge, the UARK-UAMS labs have patented a new palm-sized gadget that uses reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to wirelessly detect coronaviruses and differentiate the dead virus particles from the live. Here we present new data from improving the COVID sensor using Avadain’s and SWRI’s high-quality, micron-sized graphene (GA) flakes (each with about three layers of carbon atoms) to replace the rGO flakes under NIST’s and RAPID’s support. Per our preliminary data, the COVID sensor’s sensitivity, reproducibility, reliability, and manufacturing viability can be much improved using graphene flakes. On this basis, we are trying to deliver a well-optimized sensor asap that’s mass-production viable for thus-detecting live viruses, bacteria, cancer cells, T- and B-cells, stem cells, etc. to potentially change games in both basic and applied biosciences. The new nanosynthesis knowledge learned from this work can potentially benefit Flextrapower’s task for improving the COVID facemask.