Electrowetting-on-Dielectric System for COVID-19 Testing

Vandana Jain ¹, K Muralidhar ¹

⁰Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, 208016 India.

Transactions of the Indian National Academy of Engineering : an International Journal of Engineering and Technology +

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April 16, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Rapid COVID-19 detection is vital for public health. This study introduces electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) technology for quick virus identification by merging sample and reagent droplets for colorimetric analysis.

Area Of Science

Biotechnology
Medical Diagnostics
Microfluidics

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant global health threat.
Rapid identification of infected individuals is critical for disease control and treatment.
Existing diagnostic methods may face challenges in speed and accessibility.

Purpose Of The Study

To present a novel electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) based technology for rapid viral outbreak detection.
To demonstrate the feasibility of using EWOD for sample-reagent mixing in diagnostic assays.
To highlight the potential of automated microfluidic systems for point-of-care testing.

Main Methods

Utilized electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) technology with a microprocessor-controlled electrode array.
Developed a method to merge a liquid sample droplet with a reagent droplet on the EWOD platform.
Employed digital imaging to capture color changes resulting from the reaction within the merged droplets.

Main Results

Successfully demonstrated the merging of sample and reagent droplets using EWOD.
Observed distinct color changes indicative of a positive test result.
Validated the potential for automated, rapid diagnostic testing through visual imaging analysis.

Conclusions

EWOD technology offers a promising platform for rapid and efficient viral detection.
The described method facilitates automated mixing and colorimetric analysis for diagnostics.
This approach could significantly aid in controlling infectious disease outbreaks through timely identification.

Keywords:

COVID-19 Digital microfluidics Droplet merging EWOD Thermal amplification