6 minutes of virus diagnosis is okay...Metasurface-based PCR technology

[Anchor]
Korean researchers have developed a technology that can reduce the existing gene amplification PCR diagnosis, which took 3 to 4 hours, to around 6 minutes.

PCR diagnosis requires repeated application of heat to amplify virus genes, and metasurface technology that absorbs light and instantaneously converts it into heat is applied.

This is reporter Lee Sung-kyu.

[Reporter]
Genetic amplification PCR diagnostic technology, which was widely used to check for infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PCR diagnostic technology is characterized by high accuracy by detecting the DNA of viruses that have invaded our body.

To do this, we amplify it so that we can detect very small amounts of viral DNA in our body.

To amplify viral DNA, the process of heating the DNA to 95 degrees and then lowering it to 65 degrees is repeated, which takes 3 to 4 hours with conventional PCR methods.

Korean researchers have developed a technology that can significantly reduce this to about 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

The key lies in meta-surface technology that absorbs light and converts it into heat immediately.

Ring-shaped nanomaterials are placed on the meta surface to instantly heat up when light is received.

[Kim In-ki / Sungkyunkwan University Professor: (In a ring shape) This minimizes the reflection of light and minimizes the transmission, so that it can absorb 100% of the visible and near-infrared light. When light is absorbed, free electrons on the surface vibrate and quickly turn into heat....]

The researchers confirmed that the genes of the COVID-19 Omicron variant can be effectively amplified through experiments.

COVID-19 is over, but the scientific community warns that a new virus can appear at any time.

We hope that meta-surface-based PCR technology that can quickly and accurately check for infection will be quickly applied to the diagnosis site.

I'm Lee Sung Kyu of YTN Science.


Image recording: Hwang Yu-min
Graphic: Im Saetbyul