Purdue startup designing device to identify mosquito-borne diseases

While most of the efforts surrounding mosquito-transmitted disease focus on the aftermath, a new sensor under development by SMK Diagnostics would allow for earlier intervention.

SMK — a startup begun by Purdue University professors — builds on previous biosensor technology used to monitor diseases like Zika and Dengue. This new product, its creators said, would allow detection at a lower cost and quicker speed than existing methodologies.

“The sensor provides early detection so you can intervene earlier,” said Lia Stanciu, associate head and professor of Materials Engineering at Purdue and one of the founders of SMK Diagnostics. “If local agencies know there’s a danger, they can intervene early to try to make sure it doesn’t get transmitted to people.”

The device technology uses an electrode coated with a high surface area material immobilizes certain molecules and binds to the RNA of the virus. Once virus-infected RNA or DNA binds to that surface, the surface resistance on the electrode changes, allowing the sensor to determine the presence of a virus and differentiate between specific flaviviruses. It should work in less than an hour, according to its creators — reducing the current diagnosis timeframe by a week, if not longer.

Stanciu hopes to place the sensors where disease-carrying mosquitoes populate, allowing it to act as an early warning system.