Engineering photonics solutions for COVID-19

Abstract

As the impact of COVID-19 on society became apparent, the engineering and scientific community recognized the need for innovative solutions. Two potential roadmaps emerged: developing short-term solutions to address the immediate needs of the healthcare communities and developing mid/long-term solutions to eliminate the over-arching threat. However, in a truly global effort, researchers from all backgrounds came together in tackling this challenge. Short-term efforts have focused on re-purposing existing technologies and leveraging additive manufacturing techniques to address shortages in personal protective equipment and disinfection. More basic research efforts with mid-term and long-term impact have emphasized developing novel diagnostics and accelerating vaccines. As a foundational technology, photonics has contributed directly and indirectly to all efforts. This perspective will provide an overview of the critical role that the photonics field has played in efforts to combat the immediate COVID-19 pandemic as well as how the photonics community could anticipate contributing to future pandemics of this nature.

Structured Light Control and Diagnostics Using Optical Crystals

“…The coronavirus macromolecules are of spherical shape of 100-140 nm in diameter, with an outer envelope bearing 20 nm-long club-shaped spike proteins [43]; in the visible wavelength range, their refractive index is 1.06, and they are optically anisotropic (the scattering indicatrix is polarization-dependent) [43]. Recent studies related to coronavirus identification in the blood have shown the possibility of various approaches to their investigation [44][45][46], among which the optical methods can be distinguished, including the fluorescence-based methods, employment of surface plasmons, plasmon-enhanced fluorescence, surface-enhancing Raman scattering, colorimetric biosensor methods [44,45], and approaches of fiber optics in the nanophotonic framework [46]. Such optical approaches enable detection of the immunoglobulin M and G antibodies or the SARS-CoV-2 molecules themselves.…”

Optical technologies for the detection of viruses like COVID-19: Progress and prospects

“…A comprehensive table that illustrates the potential of optical techniques for the detection of viruses like COVID-19 is given supplementary Table 4 ( Cui and Chou, 2020 ) ( Jinglin et al, 2020 ). (Technology and trends) ( Soler et al, 2020 ).…”

On‐Chip Optical Detection of Viruses: A Review

“…In COVID‐19 pandemic, RT‐qPCR, a version of NAAR, becomes a preferred method of coronavirus test that contributes in alleviating the spread of coronavirus. [ 131 ] Despite of good performance of conventional RT‐PCR, it also has some drawbacks such as long reaction time (≈2 h) and undesirable sensitivity (typically 500 copies mL −1 ), which have been evidenced in the battle against COVID‐19. [ 132 ]…”