Method and system for virus and protein-antibody interactions detection and monitoring based on optical light intensity and electrical parameters

Abstract

A novel method of detecting and destroying viral transmissions such as SARS-CoV-2 transmission is described. The proposed technique uses a light source such as that from a smart phone and a mobile spectrophotometer to enable detection of proteins in solution. The technique allows for detecting soluble preparations of for example spike protein subunits from SARS-CoV-2, followed by detection of the actual binding potential of the spike protein with its host receptor, for example the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) or other antigens or elements. The results are validated by showing that this method can detect antigen-antibody binding using two independent protein-antibody pairs. Finally, this technique is combined with DC bias to show that introduction of a current in the system can be used to disrupt the antigen-antibody reaction, suggesting that this technique can be a powerful means of disrupting virus transmission by destroying virus-receptor interactions.