Rolosense: An innovative platform for automatic mobile phone readout of active SARS-CoV-2 particles

NIH Pandemic-Era Grants

Pandemic Era Grants

2021

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Principal Investigator: Khalid S. Salaita
Organization: EMORY UNIVERSITY
Fiscal Year: 2021
Award: $449,696
Funding agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Project Abstract
The ultimate goal of this proposal is to develop a novel platform technology for automatic surveillance
and tracing of airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in real time. The centerpiece of this proposal is the
“Rolosense” technology which leverages a DNA micromotor as the virus sensing and transduction
material (VSTM) that can be detected by a conventional smart phone camera. This provides both
geographical tracing and surveillance. Rolosense motor are comprised a DNA-coated spherical particle
(5 micrometer diameter) that hybridizes to a surface modified with complementary RNA. The particle
moves at speeds of over 1 micron/minute upon the addition of RNase H, which selectively hydrolyses
hybridized RNA but not single-stranded RNA. DNA motors coated with virus binding ligand (VBL) stall
in presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. Because motors move autonomously for distances up to
millimeters without intervention, the assay is fully automated, and conventional steps such as viral
inactivation, RNA isolation and amplification are not required. The readout is performed using an
automated smart phone app for particle tracking without the need for a spectrophotometer or
fluorometer. Preliminary data shows realtime SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus particle sensing. Milestones
include the screening and identification of high affinity and high specificity VBLs. Both aptamers and
antibody VBLs will be screening and validated. Simulations and experiments will be used to understand
the role of temperature and environmental conditions in modulating Rolosense performance.
Multivalent display of VBLs with DNA origami will enhance avidity. Finally, microfluidic chips with
airborne droplet capture will be implemented and tested. The work will be performed by a highly
interdisciplinary team with complementary expertise and a track-record of co-publications. PI Salaita
invented the Rolosense technology and has past experience in developing cell phone diagnostics and
synthetic motors. Co-I Melikian is an expert virologist, Co-I Heemstra is an expert at developing
aptamers for novel targets, Co-I Ke has extensive experience in DNA origami structures for avid target
binding and has co-authored work on Rolosense, Co-I Rajaraman and Primordia are experts at
microfluidic device development and commercialization. Our solution offers the potential to provide an
immediate solution to today’s urgent virus sensing and tracing needs.

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