Ground Breaker - Into the New

The world has been struck with tragedy, caused by the deadly and highly infectious Coronavirus (COVID-19). Scientists and researchers have been working 24/7 to find cures, ways of identifying the virus and any other solution they could come up with. The virus on the other hand continues to keep on evolving, creating different strands making it harder to create a reliable vaccine. It also has shown a recent increase in infected patients being asymptomatic, causing it to go unidentified much easily. The conventional methods used to identify if patients are infected are a few various tests such as the conventional PCR machine, viral tests and antibody tests. These usually require swabs of the suspected patient’s nasal or throat cavity, which has been seen to show the highest percentage of the virus found in the human body. Mr Ushan Sakuntha, an engineering student at the Sri Lanka Technological Campus, who possessed a passion for the field of Biomedical Sciences gave rise to the modified PCR machine. The frequent use of the word PCR as a result of following the news closely and the various details which have been uncovered about the virus since it began led to his research of this machine of wondrous technique. He has been heavily involved in the conventional PCR machine, trying to increase the accuracy of the test as well as try and reduce the time needed for the results to be achieved. The conventional PCR machine has an accuracy of about 60% to 70% and takes around 4 to 6 hours to deliver results. Mr Ushan has taken the machine one step further, by introducing Gel Electrophoresis to the machine, increasing the accuracy as well as reducing the time taken for results to be achieved. He created the first prototype on April and has been researching on the conventional PCR machines to this date for further gaining of new ideas and information on upgrading the invention. He has built a total of 4 of his prototypes and is in the works on trying to get a patent for his invention and further help Sri Lanka in fighting off this virus and possibly, the world.

The abbreviation PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction. This technique works by creating multiple copies of a specified DNA region, which can help target and identify if the targeted strand is present. Mr Ushan has taken this a step further by introducing Gel Electrophoresis to the test. Gel Electrophoresis in simple terms, works by the use of a gel(agarose) which helps in separating the DNA fragments according to their charge and size by the use of a current running through the gel. This is done along with DNA-binding dye added in advance so that the concentration level and the presence of the DNA strand can be seen using UV light. Gel Electrophoresis is possible to conduct along with the Polymerase Chain Reaction to detect COVID, because the RNA strands in the virus are negatively charged, helping to separate the strand which needs to be detected. Henceforth, instead of giving out a positive or negative result alone, Mr Ushan’s prototype goes on to show the concentration of the virus within a shorter time period.

All this work took quite the sweat and tears for Mr Ushan as the availability of parts in Sri Lanka is scarce to create such equipment, added with the restrictions of importing of parts due to lockdown measures reinforced. Expenses of the parts also have been a challenging factor. As said before, he is currently working on achieving the patent to his prototype and help Sri Lanka gain a lead in trying to fight off this highly deadly and infectious virus. As for what Mr Ushan has in mind to share with the youth and upcoming inventors, he expressed how much the internet has helped him and how it can help you as well. “You have a lot of resources available such as the internet which is a vast collection of information and is very efficient compared to books, conduct your research about that idea and see to what extent it has been developed, then start working on the project”.

Let’s give a thought about it!

Rtr. Mishaal Siraj