Symposium EL03 - 2D Materials—Nanofabrication and Applications

Michael Geiwitz, Boston College

Graphene Multiplexed Sensor for Point-of-Need Viral Wastewater-Based Epidemiology

Written by Andrew M. Fitzgerald

Michael Geiwitz from Boston College developed a graphene-based multiplexed sensor, offering a new approach to wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). This work addresses the need for rapid, low-cost detection of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and Influenza A, in wastewater. Traditional WBE methods are costly and typically reliant on large facilities, limiting their use in small or low-resource settings. This new platform uses graphene-based transistors and pre-attached aptamers to provide a highly sensitive, scalable solution. Each sensor chip, produced in batches of forty-four via wafer-scale fabrication, can detect four analytes simultaneously with detection limits up to two orders of magnitude lower than traditional mass spectrometry. The device’s rapid and accurate detection capabilities make it excellent for monitoring viral loads locally, providing early warnings before outbreaks occur. Future iterations already in progress aim to adapt the system into portable, handheld devices, which could equip low-resource communities with real-time epidemiological tools. This advancement represents a significant step forward in combating infectious diseases and bolstering global public health protection efforts.