Ultrasensitive Detection of Cymbidium Mosaic Potexvirus Using a Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube-Functionalized Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Abstract

We have developed an ultrasensitive, convenient, real-time platform for detecting Cymbidium mosaic potexvirus (CymMV) based on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT)-functionalized quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors. Functionalization was achieved by coating the QCM electrode with SWNTs, followed by 1,1 0-carbonyldiimidazole-activated Tween 20 (CDI-Tween 20) modification and conjugation of antibodies. Sensitivity was enhanced from 2.18 to 11.5 Hz ng À1 when 0.1 mg mL À1 CymMV was applied. The low limit of detection of SWNT-functionalized QCM sensors was improved from 2.08 to 0.502 ng. The SWNT-functionalized QCM sensor was successfully used to quantify the amount of CymMV contained in infected orchid leaves. Compared to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), SWNT-functionalized QCM sensors are fast, economical, and ultra-sensitive, with comparable sensitivities. The current study demonstrates the application of QCM sensors as a convenient platform to detect and quantify CymMV.

Nanoparticle and Bioparticle Deposition Kinetics: Quartz Microbalance Measurements

“…Because of its numerous advantages, the QCM method is used in an increasing number of investigations for nanoparticles involving liposomes and vesicles [ 44 , 45 , 56 , 96 ], macroions [ 31 , 51 , 52 , 53 ], proteins [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ], viruses [ 56 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ], bacteria [ 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 ] and living cells, comprising cancerous ones [ 48 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 ]. However, as mentioned above, a quantitative theoretical interpretation of QCM measurements for bioparticles is often not feasible because the frequency and the dissipation shifts depend on many inadequately controlled parameters.…”

“…Numerous QCM-D investigations have also been performed for viruses [ 56 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ] and proteins [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ] using various modifications of the sensors. However, only sporadic experiments have been carried out for physiochemically well-defined systems, where the solute adsorption kinetics was also acquired using complementary methods.…”

“…Moreover, in contrast to the streaming potential methods, the QCM signal is not directly affected by the solute or the interface charge. Because of its numerous advantages and a deceptive simplicity of measurements, the QCM method is used in numerous investigations involving nanoparticles [ 3 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ], macroions [ 29 , 31 , 51 , 52 , 53 ] proteins [ 27 , 28 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ], viruses [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ], bacteria [ 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 ], and living cells [ 78 , 79 ,…”

A Survey of the 2010 Quartz Crystal Microbalance Literature

“…QCM is well established as a fast and sensitive method to detect viruses, which typically possess dimensions in the range of 100 s of nanometres. Modification of a QCM sensor with single‐wall carbon nanotubes with conjugated antibodies allowed the detection of Cymbidium mosaic potexvirus (Chen et al ., ). The sensor was used to quantify the potexvirus particles contained in infected orchid leaves, achieving similar sensitivity to ELISA in a significantly reduced time.…”