NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop paper-based diagnostic tool for infectious disease detection
2 June 2025 11:10
ABU DHABI (WAM)A team of scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi has developed a breakthrough paper-based diagnostic device that can detect COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in under 10 minutes, without the need for sophisticated lab equipment or trained personnel.The Radially Compartmentalized Paper Chip (RCP-Chip), engineered by researchers at the Advanced Microfluidics and Microdevices Laboratory (AMMLab), offers a fast, affordable, and portable solution for on-site screening of infectious diseases.The RCP-Chip has been developed to detect even minute traces of viral genetic material using a droplet of fluid and a visible color change.It operates without electricity or special equipment, needing just a source of mild heat at around 65°C, similar to the temperature of warm water.The research is detailed in a paper titled Single-Layer Radially Compartmentalized Paper Chip (RCP-Chip) for Rapid Isothermal Multiplex Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Gene Targets, published in the journal Advanced Sensor Research. The study reports the development and validation of the RCP-Chip as a rapid, multiplexed diagnostic platform for infectious disease detection suitable for low-resource settings.NYUAD Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering and senior author Mohammad A. Qasaimeh said, 'The RCP-Chip is designed for real-world impact. It can be reconfigured to detect other infectious diseases, making it a powerful tool for global health.'
'This is a fast, affordable, lab-free test that detects multiple gene targets in under 10 minutes,' said NYUAD Research Assistant and co-first author of the study Pavithra Sukumar. 'What makes it truly impactful is its real-world potential. This portable test could significantly improve outbreak response by enabling faster isolation, treatment, and control.'
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