Refractive index based optically transparent biosensor device design for early detection of coronavirus

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optoelectronics
• Biosensing Technology

Background:

• The rapid spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) necessitates swift and accurate diagnostic tools.
• Existing detection methods may face limitations in speed, sensitivity, or accessibility.
• Infectious bronchitis viruses (IBV), belonging to the broader Coronaviridae family, share similarities with SARS-CoV-2.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and analyze a highly sensitive D-shaped surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for the rapid detection of Coronaviruses.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance in detecting IBV-contaminated cells, a surrogate for COVID-19 detection.
• To investigate key optical parameters and performance metrics of the proposed SPR biosensor.

Main Methods:

• Design and simulation of a D-shaped gold-coated SPR biosensor.
• Utilizing Multiphysics version 5.3 software and the Finite Element Method (FEM) for analysis.
• Examining optical parameter variations, including wavelength sensitivity, confinement loss, crosstalk, and insertion loss.
• Assessing sensor response to changes in refractive index (RI) related to EID concentration.

Main Results:

• The proposed SPR biosensor achieved a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 40,141.76 nm/RIU.
• A minimum insertion loss of 2.9 dB was reported for a refractive index of 1.
• The sensor demonstrated proficiency in detecting IBV-contaminated cells, indicating potential for COVID-19 detection.

Conclusions:

• The developed D-shaped SPR biosensor offers a promising platform for the quick and accurate identification of Coronaviruses.
• Its simple design, high sensitivity, and low signal losses make it suitable for detecting viral contaminants.
• This technology can contribute significantly to epidemic control by enabling rapid diagnostics.