Integrated Electrowetting-on-dielectric and Electrostatic Precipitation for Monitoring Airborne Viruses in Real-world Indoor Environments
SANGSOO CHOI, Seong-Jae Yoo, Amin Piri, Milad Massoudifarid, Sanggwon An, Yong-Jun Kim, Jungho Hwang,
School of Mechanical Engineering at Yonsei university Abstract Number: 640
Working Group: Bioaerosols
AbstractThe detection of airborne viruses in indoor settings is essential for preventing the spread of infectious diseases. However, their low concentrations in ambient air present a significant challenge for sensitive and reliable detection. In this study, we report an integrated system that combines electrostatic precipitation (ESP) with electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) droplet actuation to achieve efficient virus sampling and enrichment from air into microscale liquid volumes. The ESP component enables high-efficiency particle collection with low pressure drop. Subsequently, the EWOD module actively manipulates and merges droplets to concentrate the collected viruses into a small liquid volume suitable for molecular analysis.
Laboratory tests demonstrated that the system can concentrate airborne viruses by several orders of magnitude within 20 minutes, resulting in significantly improved detection sensitivity using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Field tests conducted in real-world indoor environments, such as classrooms, cafeterias, and corridors, confirmed the system’s ability to efficiently collect airborne respiratory viruses, including influenza virus, bocavirus, and coronaviruses, which were subsequently detected by PCR analysis.
This integrated ESP–EWOD platform offers a robust and portable solution for rapid indoor air monitoring. By bridging efficient physical collection and droplet-based concentration, the system addresses both the sensitivity and usability challenges in airborne virus surveillance. These findings underscore the potential of the proposed method for real-time environmental monitoring and public health protection in crowded or high-risk indoor environments.