Researchers from Cranfield University have developed an innovative new method for identifying biomarkers in wastewater using origami paper sensors, allowing infectious diseases to be tracked using the camera in a mobile phone. The new testing device is cheap and fast and could dramatically change the way public health measures are managed in future pandemics.
Wastewater is an important way to detect infections
Wastewater testing is one of the most important ways to assess the prevalence of infectious diseases among populations. Researchers are taking samples from various water treatment plants across the country and using the results to understand which areas currently have the highest contamination rates. The method was used during the COVID-19 pandemic to map the number of infections in the community and guide public health measures.
Zhugen Yang, professor of biosensors and environmental health at Cranfield University, led the development of the Sentinel sensors. It builds on research he conducted in 2020 to develop a test to detect SARS-CoV-2 (commonly known as COVID-19), Influenza A and Influenza B in wastewater using a paper-based platform and a UV flashlight or cell phone camera.
Until now, the most accurate ways to test wastewater samples have been methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which must be performed in centralized laboratories by properly trained personnel. This means that samples are collected, stored and transported in a cold chain to the laboratory site before processing, which can take several days and is relatively expensive.
‘Origami’ test on folded paper is read via mobile phone
The new testing method is fast, user-friendly and portable. Wastewater samples are placed on a wax-printed sheet of paper that is folded in an ‘origami’ style. The paper contains chemicals that react with certain disease markers, creating a fluorescent color. Using a mobile phone camera, the results can be quickly read and data collected
Professor Yang developed the new method as part of the national COVID-19 wastewater monitoring program. In 2021, at the height of the pandemic, he conducted field testing using the test in four quarantine hotels around Heathrow Airport. The entire process from sample to response took less than 90 minutes, compared to around four hours for a PCR test, where the tests were carried out in the basement of one of the hotels with minimal equipment. The results showed that this new device provides results at least as accurate as the PCR test, but at a much lower cost, and can provide an early warning of disease in the community. The device is especially useful for areas with limited resources due to its ease of use, low cost and fast results.
Professor Yang commented: “During COVID-19, we have proven that rapid analysis of sewage treatment plants is a highly effective way to detect infectious diseases and help manage public health. The simple test we have developed costs just £1 and uses the commonly available camera function in a mobile phone, making it easily accessible. This could be a real game changer when it comes to predicting disease rates and improving public health in the face of future pandemics.”
The device has been put on display at the London Science Museum in recognition of its contribution to the National Wastewater Surveillance Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further development of the test is sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Scheme and a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. In the future, it could potentially be used to detect new variants and help determine if the variant is still spreading in the community, as well as monitor antimicrobial resistance from one health perspective.
“Paper microfluidic sentinel sensor enables rapid on-site wastewater monitoring in community settings” is published in the journal Cell reports natural sciencesand also involved scientists from the University of Glasgow and Zhejiang University in China.
