COVID19 pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 rapid progression worldwide are already historical landmarks of the 21st century owing to the magnitude of the event and the collective response that populations have adopted to face such threat. This menace has imposed an unprecedented reactivity to promptly deliver answers in various fields and specifically in termes of diagnostic capabilities. The very first tests to be used were based on PCR reactions and on deep nasopharyngeal sampling. But this has shown to be insufficient to prevent contaminations and limit the progression of the disease. This approach requires important infrastructure thus limiting the extent to which it can be delivered. Moreover, nasopharyngeal swab is highly intrusive and therefore is not suitable for repeated testing of asymptomatic patients in surveillance programs. Actual need is based on new tests offering new capabilities both in terms of wide range availability, ease of use and reduced time-to-result duration. Such tests, affordable and that can be performed outside the lab would ultimately relief pressure on healthcare workers and laboratory facilities as well as help test massively wide range of populations thus limiting viral dissemination Such innovating test device has been developped by the start-up "Grapheal" and the present study will ultimately demonstrate the feasibility of COVID-19 diagnostic using this test.
ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES Actual strategy for rapid and accurate
diagnostic relies heavily (almost solely) on RT-PCR based tests. The French Scientific Board
advising the national government in the management of this epidemic has brought back on
September, 3rd the three-axis policy : " Test - Track - Isolate " as the central response to
the COVID-19 progression. This strategy is also the response promoted by WHO since March. If
properly applied, this approach allows high-performance in identifying positive cases and
spotting transmission chains, thus allowing to specifically isolate and quarantine infectious
patients. The expected outcome is a halting epidemic allowing economic recovery and
protection of populations.
Rise in French laboratory capacities regarding their ability to perform the required tests
has been achieved since the early days of COVID-19. Since August, 10th we have reached the
pace of 100.000 daily tests nationwide and peaked above 300.000 tests per day as of October,
26th (Santé Publique France).
However, the need to lockdown the entire French population for a second time is the
demonstration of the limits of this strategy. Issues can be summarized in a few key points:
- The hassle of performing as many tests as needed over the whole national territory has
proven difficult and does not allow control of local epidemic bursts
- Repetitive sampling for asymptomatic patients to confirm viral clearance and lack of
viral shedding raises strong questions regarding its feasibility
- The need for high quality sampling for RT-PCR tests accurately reaching nasopharyngeal
cavity requires trained staff whose availability is limited. Swab collection remains an
important bottleneck nationwide.
- Important consumption of PPE (personal protective equipment) for sampling staff adds an
unnecessary tension in supply chains In the light of these issues, there is an urgent
need to transition from RT-PCR tests to novel diagnostic techniques capable of
addressing the above-mentioned key problems. Rapid Antigenic Tests are being evaluated
and used already in some facilities and in very controlled settings. However, these
tests do have important limitations and their relatively low sensibility in real-life
setting (around 60% of positive agreement with RT-PCR for best-performing tests) is an
issue that need to be quickly addressed to avoid jeopardizing efforts made to widespread
tests and keep public confidence. Moreover, Rapid Antigenic Tests deliver results in 15
to 30 minutes' time, much faster than traditional RT-PCR, but still inadequate for
massive population test in crowded places and public gathering (airports, shows and
sporting events).
ABOUT MEDICAL DEVICE INVOLVED
Vincent BOUCHIAT is a team leader, former research senior and principal investigator from
French science agency CNRS in the field of material science and physics, and he established
in 2019 a start-up (Grapheal) in Grenoble to upcycle his fundamental work on the unique
properties of graphene, allowing the synthesis of electronic polymers with bio-compatibility
and biological detection capacities. This work is patent-protected in cooperation with local
university (UGA) which grants sustainability in the development of such technology.
Since March 2020, Grapheal has been working on a single-use specific biosensor called
'TestNPass digital Covid Ag test strip' thus allowing the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2. This
biosensor uses the electronic detection of the biochemical matching between specific
antibodies directed against the virus. The docking of the virus by stabilized antibodies
leads to a change in conductance within the sensor electronic circuit, similar to Seo and
colleague's work. This variation in electric conductance is measured by an ultraportable and
autonomous circuit that can be paired with either a computer or a smartphone in order to be
further analyzed.
Proof of concept of the device has been realized by in vitro experiments putting together
commercial samples containing recombinant structural proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with
the detection electrodes of the disposable antigenic test strip after dilution in a saline
solution (PBS). Tested samples with Nucleocapsid and Spike proteins were able to trigger a
change in conductance, thus allowing detection of the viral surrogate. Protein concentrations
have been adjusted to match in vivo concentrations and an important work has been performed
to ensure signal processing is robust, reliable and repeatability of the measure.
Encryption of the result within the on-board processing circuits of the device allow the
development of a device fully compliant with personal data protection and grating GDPR
compliance from the start.
FEASIBILITY AND PAST EXPERIENCE OF INVOLVED TEAMS:
The team from Grapheal is hosted within the BioPolis incubator facility which presence close
to Grenoble Teaching Hospital (CHUGA) allows for narrow collaborations. This start-up
highlight the performances of bio sensing technologies based on graphene polymers. Grapheal
team has 7 members, all of them holding PhDs in biological sciences or physics. The team is
led by Vincent BOUCHIAT, who is a former principal investigator from French national agency
for scientific research (CNRS). The team has been granted with prizes and rewards among which
the i-lab 2020 contest held by the French Ministry of Scientific Research and Higher
Education for innovating technologies.
For this project, the team has joined its forces with specialists of IVD and medical devices
as well as knowledgeable support from regulation specialists. Ultimately the team has been
requesting the help from the virology team from Grenoble University Hospital (CHUGA) in order
to set up the present proof-of-concept study, the first of its kind to be performed in human
samples.
The virology team from Grenoble University hospital (CHUGA) is a pioneer in the development
of molecular based assays for viral diagnostic. Some of the now classical PCR and RT-PCR
widely used for routine diagnostic in France have been set up within our team and laboratory.
These techniques and PCR kits now branded by BioMérieux company have been developed by
collaborators from our lab, thus granting us with a wide experience in diagnostic technique
and molecular based technologies.
The diagnostic of SARS-CoV-2 infection is performed within our laboratory since the early
days of the pandemic. We have been dealing with the very first infected patients from France
as early as February, 8th 2020. The diagnostic of these patients has greatly improved since
then and SAR-CoV-2 detection is now performed as a regular daily test at an unprecedented
rate. Along with the development of cutting edge techniques including pseudo-virus
neutralization assays, our team now holds a highly skilled expertise regarding to COVID-19
questions.
Both microbiological and clinical teams from CHUGA have been producing research projects and
data about COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10 clinical studies have been set-up and half of
these protocols now enroll patients on a daily basis. One of those has closed after inclusion
of more than 200 subjects. Moreover, cooperation has been developed to reach more than 50
shared research projects with collaborators in France. Among those, the nation-wide projects
DISCoVery and French-COVID have been main protocols where we matched expected targets.
Altogether, these past experiences are key for future success in the present study.
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The present study has a main target of demonstrating the feasibility of the Grapheal
TestNPass device to accurately distinguish SARS-CoV-2 infections in a tested population. If
conclusive, the evaluated test could help detect and therefore limit the spread of the virus
upon national territory.
The root hypothesis is as following: the bond between the antibody directed against viral
proteins and the virus itself is enough to generate within a graphene base semi-conductor a
change in conductance that is measurable and repeatable. This electric current can therefore
be used as a surrogate of viral infection, viral shedding and viral infectiousness. Obtained
result being an electric impulse, it will be easily transferred to a device for digital
display.
Simultaneously, the present study will bring to light some of the following elements:
- Crucial information about ergonomic of the device for future development and improving.
This study being the first use outside of Grapheal's team, the feedbacks from users will
be of great help to support future development of the device.
- Preliminary data on analytical performances. Will the main goal of the present study is
to demonstrate the feasibility of COVID-19 diagnosis with the device, key performance
date such as sensitivity, specificity, positive agreement and negative agreement will be
estimated. This will serve as a strong basis for both future studies and approval from
regulatory agencies
Diagnostic Test: TestNPass
Patients will undergo saliva sampling. Grenoble University Hospital lab will perform diagnosis using TestNPass IVDMD. Results won't be used for patient care (only recorded for RESEARCH purpose).
Inclusion Criteria:
- Men or Women over 18 years old
- suspect of COVID19 and consulting for a diagnosis at Grenoble University Hospital.
- Duly informed and not opposed to participation at GraphealNPass' study
- Affiliated to french social security.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients protected by law (minors, pregnant or breastfeeding woman, patient under
guardianship or deprived of his/her liberty or hospitalized without his/her consent)
Grenoble University Hospital
Grenoble cedex 9, France
Benjamin Némoz, MD, Principal Investigator
University Hospital, Grenoble