Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, June 20 (Reporter Liu Xia) According to the latest issue of "ACS Nano", researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) have successfully used graphene to detect NCP in the laboratory. The researchers said the discovery could be a breakthrough in NCP detection, promisingly rapid detection of NCP and its variant strains.

The researchers foundwhen exposed to Novel Coronavirus-positive samples, the vibration of antibody-coupled graphene sheets changed, but not when exposed to Novel Coronavirus-negative samples or other coronaviruses. Using the Raman spectrometer, the researchers measured the vibration changes within five minutes.

The lead author of the latest study and head of the chemical engineering department at UIC's School of Engineering, Vikas Berry, said: "We have been developing graphene sensors for many years. Previously, we have developed graphene detectors that specifically detect cancer cells and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Now we have developed the Graphene NCP detector, a sensor that can detect the NCP quickly and accurately at a low price, and has many advantages over many current detection methods."

Berry said, "In the latest study, we modified graphene with antibodies and calibrated it to react only with the NCP spikes protein. Using this method, graphene can also be used to detect variants of NCP."