IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology (Jan 2020)

Magnetic Microdevices for MRI-Based Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Viruses

  • Lamar O. Mair,
  • Olivia Hale,
  • Sahar Jafari,
  • Cheng Chen,
  • Oleg Udalov,
  • Roland Probst,
  • Ittai Baum,
  • Anjana Hevaganinge,
  • Elaine Yi Wang,
  • Olga C. Rodriguez,
  • Christopher Albanese,
  • Stanley T. Fricke,
  • Irving N. Weinberg

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/OJEMB.2020.3026234
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1
pp. 265 – 267

Abstract

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Goal: To develop a micron-scale device that can operate as an MRI-based reporter for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Methods: Iron rod microdevices were constructed via template-guided synthesis and suspended in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 viruses were added to the samples and imaged with low-field MRI. Results: MRI of microdevices and viruses showed decreased signal intensity at low concentrations of viruses that recovered at higher concentrations. Electron micrographs suggest that reduced MRI intensity may be due to concentration-dependent shielding of water protons from local magnetic inhomogeneities caused by the iron microdevices. Conclusions: The preliminary results presented in this letter provide justification for further studies exploring the potential diagnostic role of magnetic microdevices in assessing the presence and concentration of SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

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