A Portable Nanoprobe for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2 S1 Protein

• Published in: Biosensors (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 4; p. 232
• Main Authors: Alhadrami, Hani A, Suaifan, Ghadeer A R Y, Zourob, Mohammed M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11-04-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: ACE2; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Antibodies; Asymptomatic; Bacterial infections; Biosensors; Cellulose; Colorimetry; Contamination; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; Disease transmission; Humans; Infections; Laboratories; Lactoferrin; low-cost diagnostic assay; Middle East respiratory syndrome; Morbidity; Nanoparticles; onsite detection; Optical communication; Proteins; Public health; Quantitation; rapid biosensors; Receptors; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - analysis; Spike protein; Viral diseases; Viruses; Visual signals; COVID-19; rapid biosensors; SARS-CoV-2; onsite detection; low-cost diagnostic assay
• ISSN: 2079-6374; 2079-6374
• DOI: 10.3390/bios12040232

Simple, timely, and precise detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples and contaminated surfaces aids in lowering attendant morbidity/mortality related to this infectious virus. Currently applied diagnostic techniques depend on a timely laboratory report following PCR testing. However, the application of these tests is associated with inherent shortcomings due to the need for trained personnel, long-time centralized laboratories, and expensive instruments. Therefore, there is an interest in developing biosensing diagnostic frontiers that can help in eliminating these shortcomings with a relatively economical, easy-to-use, well-timed, precise and sensitive technology. This study reports the development of fabricated Q-tips designed to qualitatively and semi-quantitatively detect SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples and contaminated non-absorbable surfaces. This colorimetric sensor is engineered to sandwich SARS-CoV-2 spike protein between the lactoferrin general capturing agent and the complementary ACE2-labeled receptor. The ACE2 receptor is decorated with an orange-colored polymeric nanoparticle to generate an optical visual signal upon pairing with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This colorimetric change of the Q-tip testing zone from white to orange confirms a positive result. The visual detection limit of the COVID-19 engineered colorimetric Q-tip sensor was 100 pfu/mL within a relatively short turnaround time of 5 min. The linear working range of quantitation was 10
-10
pfu/mL. The engineered sensor selectively targeted SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and did not bind to another coronavirus such as MERS-CoV, Flu A, or Flu B present on the contaminated surface. This novel detection tool is relatively cheap to produce and suitable for onsite detection of COVID-19 infection.