Ultra-sensitive viral glycoprotein detection NanoSystem toward accurate tracing SARS-CoV-2 in biological/non-biological media

Abstract

Rapid person-to-person transfer of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and their occasional mutations owing to the human activity and climate/ecological changes by the mankind led to creation of wrecking worldwide challenges. Such fast transferable pathogens requiring practical diagnostic setups to control their transfer chain and stop sever outbreaks in early stages of their appearance. Herein, we have addressed this urgent demand by designing a rapid electrochemical diagnostic kit composed of fixed/screen printed electrodes that can detect pathogenic viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and/or animal viruses through the differentiable fingerprint of their viral glycoproteins at different voltage positions. The working electrode of developed sensor is activated upon coating a layer of coupled graphene oxide (GO) with sensitive chemical compounds along with gold nanostars (Au NS) that can detect the trace of viruses in any aquatic biological media (e.g., blood, saliva and oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swab) through interaction with active functional groups of their glycoproteins. The method do not require any extraction and/or biomarkers for detection of target viruses and can identify trace of different pathogenic viruses in about 1 min. The nanosensor also demonstrated superior limit of detection (LOD) and sensitivity of 1.68 × 10 −22 μg mL −1 and 0.0048 μAμg.mL −1 . cm −2 , respectively, toward detection of SARS-CoV-2 in biological media, while blind clinical evaluations of 100 suspected samples furtherly confirmed the superior sensitivity/specificity of developed nanosystem toward rapid identification of ill people even at incubation and prodromal periods of illness.

Advances in emergent biological recognition elements and bioelectronics for diagnosing COVID-19

“…This biosensor was designed to detect RNA present in SARS-CoV-2. In this example, graphene oxide is functionalized with macrocyclic oligomer calixarene, i.e., p-sulfocalix [ 8 ]arene (SCX8). The resulting calixarene/carbon composite is also attached with gold and toluidine blue materials to provide a high electrochemical signal.…”

COVID-19: A challenge for electrochemical biosensors

“…An interesting sensor (no biorecognition element) for various viruses based on the differentiable fingerprint of their glycoproteins in voltammograms was reported by Hashemi et al. [ 81 ]. They benefited from the properties of graphene oxide modified with 8-hydroxyquinoline, EDC and NHS composites with gold nanostars, which have high adsorptive capability for viral S proteins due to the presence of various functional groups.…”

Graphene: A Disruptive Opportunity for COVID‐19 and Future Pandemics?

“…A completely different approach was proposed by Hashemi et al. [ 57 ] The authors put the focus on the electrochemical sensing of glycoproteins by differential pulse voltammetry. The active material consisted of functionalized GO decorated with Au nanostars deposited on glassy carbon electrodes.…”