‘Smart bandage’ can detect COVID-19 , other viruses in minutes

When a disease outbreak occurs, early detection is key to controlling the spread before it becomes an epidemic.

A new adhesive bandage, developed by researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi, can detect the presence of disease antibodies within minutes — even before a person has symptoms.

This rapid antibody-testing bandage could be an important new tool for controlling COVID-19 and other viral diseases.

The disposable bandage, which looks like a regular adhesive bandage, uses tiny gold nanoparticles to detect the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream.

“Real-time screening of viral infection using tests like the … adhesive bandage can play a crucial role in preventing future outbreaks and pandemics by enabling early detection,” Mohammad Qasaimeh, associate professor of mechanical engineering and bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, said in a news release.

To use the bandage, a person pricks their fingertip, then applies the bandage to their fingertip.

The bandage recognizes the presence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that signal the presence of viruses like COVID-19.

Within minutes, a dot on the bandage changes color to red, indicating the IgM or IgG antibodies are in the bloodstream.

It also shows how active their COVID-19 infection is: An early immune response, for example, shows up with a different dot pattern than an active immune response.

The researchers who developed the bandage, described in Nature: Microsystems & Nanoengineering, believe the technology can easily be modified to detect other contagious diseases.

“Moving forward, we will explore the potential of this technology in detecting and screening other emerging viral infections,” said study co-author Muhammedin Deliorman.

There’s even an opportunity to make the finger prick easier: “We also plan to incorporate biodegradable porous microneedles into the bandage, enabling efficient finger pricking,” Deliorman added.

The low-cost bandage could be handy in rural regions that have limited access to high-end testing facilities. 

“In the future, if the large-scale usage of such adhesive bandage tests is combined with smartphone readouts and dedicated mobile apps, it opens up possibilities … for the early identification of infected individuals, including those who are asymptomatic,” said Qasaimeh.

“By promptly isolating and treating these individuals, the spread of the virus can be significantly reduced, preventing it from reaching a larger population.”