COVID-19: APTAMER-BASED DIAGNOSTICS KIT FOR THE EARLY AND RAPID DETECTION OF COVIDS

APTA-COVID aims to develop **a user-friendly kit** for the early and fast diagnosis of COVID (and its future mutants) infection. Computer modelling will enable the identification of a library of relatively small molecules (called aptamers) able to recognise different domains of the COVID-19 spikes. These molecules will be grafted on to magnetic nanoparticles to become **a powerful tool to capture, concentrate and detect small amounts of viruses in oral swabs/saliva samples**. This will be done by incubating the magnetic nanoparticles with the sample for only 15 min, attracting them with a magnet and after washing out the excess, incubate them for 15 min with free aptamers tagged with fluorescent molecules: each recognising a different virus spike domain. After a final wash, particles that fluoresce under illumination with an inexpensive UV torch will signal the presence of the virus. This kit will be much more cost-effective than the one currently available (£50 for 1000 samples). More individuals will be tested in a shorter time period thus enabling earlier detection of infection and geographical mapping of outbreaks enabling fast actions by clinicians and policymakers.