Textile Insight

A Diagnostic Laboratory in a Mask Can Detect SARS-COVID-19. By Kathlyn Swantko ccurate pathogenic testing requires a formal laboratory, specialized instrumentation, and trained technicians to process samples. It can also take up to several days to obtain results. Research conducted by the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and MIT is bringing laboratory sensor-testing power into wearable garments, like a fabric mask. This new technology utilizes "wearable freeze- dried cell-free" (wFDCF) fabrics integrated into masks or lab clothing, that is capable of identifying pathogens and toxins, including detecting SARS-COVID from a patient's breath. "Our technology miniaturizes the entire laboratory into a single wearable garment, like a fabric mask. Within a minimum of 15-30 minutes of wearing the mask, the wearer can press a button on the mask, which then actives the sensor capabili- ties for diagnosing specific viruses and pathogens," says Peter Nguyen, Ph.D. and co-leader for the research. The Harvard/MIT team is focused on bringing advanced biological circuits, known as "synthetic biology," out of the laboratory and into everyday usage. In 2015, the team applied their research into a device to detect the Zika virus. In Spring 2020, several Wyss Institute physician- scientists assisted hospitals with COVID-19 patients. Incoming patients with COVID-19 symptoms were fitted with masks, but the diagnostic testing was slow. This led Nguyen's team to pivot its research to detecting COVID-19 from a user's breath that accumulates inside the mask. The team then began to focus on how to adapt its technology to rapidly process breath samples without any moving parts and minimal user action. Within six months, the team created a cost-effective diagnostic sensor for a working mask prototype with a sensitivity equivalent to the WHO-approved RT-PCR tests for diagnosing COVID-19. Fabric Mask Construction Synthetic biological reactions are incor- porated into a fabric collection pad that is freeze-dried into the fabric. The fabric pad is positioned directly in front of the user's mouth and nose to capture aerosols from the breath. After about a 30-minute collec- tion period, the user can press a button that pierces a water reservoir and push any viral particles into a sensor for analysis. Results appear as a visible pattern on an output strip. An inexpensive polyester/polyamide blend was chosen for the sample pad. "We screened over 100 fabrics, mostly wovens, to empirically determine their compatibility with our freeze-dried cell-free reactions," says Nguyen. "We punched out sample fabrics, cleaned them, applied reactions, freeze-dried all of them, and tested them by rehydrating. The selected fabric is specifically woven with polymer optical fibers distributed within the fabric warp yarns. These optical fibers enable the team to detect light from the reaction chambers, which is generated if there is a positive reaction from any exposure event." Nguyen anticipates it will take about a year to find the right manufacturing part- ner, convert the prototype to a commercial product, and complete the required clinical approval for scalable production. "For versatility, our mask sensor can be manufactured separately, and be sent to mask manufacturers for integration," cites Nguyen. "The sensor can even be sold as a stand-alone unit for the user to place into any mask. For other wearable biosensors, the Wyss/MIT team can integrate the biosensors directly into fabrics, creating garments like lab coats that can have embedded sensors." Nguyen's prototype COVID-19 diagnostic sensor costs approximately $5 (US) not including the mask. This price is expected to drop as it moves to mass production. The team is actively looking for commercial part- ners to license, design, and create the team's mask prototype into a scalable product. l A EDUCATION | HARVARD UNIVERSITY Wearable Mask Technology The wFDCF face mask can be integrated into any standard face mask. The wearer pushes a button on the mask that releases a small amount of water into the system, which provides results within 90 minutes. Image Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University Kathlyn Swantko, president of the FabricLink Network, created www.TheTechnicalCenter.com for Industry networking and marketing of specialty textiles, and www.fabricklink.com for consumer education involving everything fabric. Contact: kgswantko@fabriclink.com textileinsight.com September/October 2021 ~ Textile Insight • 34 For more information on Wyss Institute's "COVID-19 Face Mask Detection" research, contact Dr. Peter Nguyen: peter.nguyen@wyss. harvard.edu

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