Image created by Dr. Michael J. Miller
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.
Conceived during the early COVID-19 lockdowns, 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. Its compact design, engineered from a single sheet of paper, integrates miniature components such as sample ports and vents, fluidic resistors, and reaction chambers pre-loaded with primers, enzymes, and gold nanoparticles.
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.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, our goal was to create something fast, affordable, and easy to use, especially in areas where access to lab facilities is limited," said NYUAD Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering and senior author Mohammad A. Qasaimeh. "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."
The device supports multiplex testing, meaning it can detect several gene targets in a single run. This improves efficiency while reducing sample volume and cost. Its flexible design can be adapted to detect various pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc.), across sample types such as saliva, blood, and environmental sources.
"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."
Next steps for the research team include enhancing the chip's plasmonic detection capabilities and expanding its applications for point-of-care applications. They also aim to explore smartphone connectivity for real-time data sharing and outbreak tracking, further improving its utility in public health surveillance.
Reference
Pavithra Sukumar et al, Single‐Layer Radially Compartmentalized Paper Chip (RCP‐Chip) for Rapid Isothermal Multiplex Detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 Gene Targets, Advanced Sensor Research (2025). DOI: 10.1002/adsr.70010
Abstract
The study presents the development of a radially compartmentalized paper chip (RCP-Chip) designed for the rapid detection of multiple gene targets of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay. The RCP-Chip features reaction chambers for multiplexing, fluidic resistors to prevent backflow, fluidic ports for excess fluid venting, and an outer ring to contain overflowing fluids, all within a single-layer cellulose paper platform. Optimization results successfully achieve a color readout sensitivity of 10 copies µL−1 RNA spiked in water (singleplex device) and 2040 copies µL−1 RNA spiked saliva samples (multiplex device). The chip demonstrates the capability to simultaneously detect the envelope (E) and nucleocapsid (N) genes of SARS-CoV-2 in a single run. Remarkably, the RCP-Chip technology enables rapid qualitative amplification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in as little as 4 min using pH-based assay. It further enhances this visual detection by implementing in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within the single-layer paper platform, achieving a total assay time of 9 min. The adaptability of RCP-Chip can extend beyond SARS-CoV-2 detection: It can be modified and optimized for detecting gene targets of other microbial pathogens across diverse environments pertaining to cause diseases.