The 221b Foundation and LogicInk have agreed to collaborate on developing an instrument-free diagnostic biosensor for Covid-19 virus detection using Sherlock Biosciences’ CRISPR technology. Sherlock Biosciences founded the 221b Foundation as a non-profit organisation to counter the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sherlock’s CRISPR diagnostic technology will be paired with LogicInk DNA nanotechnology platform as part of the partnership. This could lead to the discovery of a suitable colour combination for easy Covid-19 self-administration and screening. According to Sherlock Biosciences, LogicInk solution is economically and logistically feasible for Covid-19 mass testing because it can be manufactured in bulk and requires no instrumentation.
The new saliva-based non-invasive test is expected to have comparable sensitivity to standard solutions but would not need a central lab or professional users to perform. Carlos Olguin, CEO and Founder of LogicInk, said, “There is tremendous financial and logistical need for an easy-to-use test that does not require any testing cartridges or other complex devices to support large-scale, decentralised testing for Covid-19. Last year, the Sherlock team made history with the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorisation of CRISPR”
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Sherlock Biosciences a $5 million grant in December to help advance the creation of its instrument-free, synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform for Covid-19.
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