Abstract
Rapid and inexpensive serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are needed to conduct population-level seroprevalence surveillance studies and can improve diagnostic reliability when used in combination with viral tests. Here, we report a novel low-cost electrochemical capillary-flow device to quantify IgG antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N antibody) down to 5 ng/mL in low-volume (10 μL) human whole blood samples in under 20 min. No sample preparation is needed as the device integrates a blood-filtration membrane for on-board plasma extraction. The device is made of stacked layers of a hydrophilic polyester and double-sided adhesive films, which create a passive microfluidic circuit that automates the steps of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sample and reagents are sequentially delivered to a nitrocellulose membrane that is modified with a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. When present in the sample, anti-N antibodies are captured on the nitrocellulose membrane and detected via chronoamperometry performed on a screen-printed carbon electrode. As a result of this quantitative electrochemical readout, no result interpretation is required, making the device ideal for point-of-care (POC) use by non-trained users. Moreover, we show that the device can be coupled to a near-field communication potentiostat operated from a smartphone, confirming its true POC potential. The novelty of this work resides in the integration of sensitive electrochemical detection with capillary-flow immunoassay, providing accuracy at the point of care. This novel electrochemical capillary-flow device has the potential to aid the diagnosis of infectious diseases at the point of care.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; capillary-flow device; electrochemistry; point-of-care (POC) diagnostics; serology.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, serology, Electrochemistry, capillary-flow device, point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, 【초록키워드】 serological test, Infectious diseases, serology, antibody, POC, point of care, Diagnosis, Infectious disease, ELISA, Protein, immunoassay, point-of-care, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, IgG antibody, Viral, Serological tests, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, Surveillance, Accuracy, IgG antibodies, anti-N antibodies, Interpretation, Smartphone, Rapid, membrane, Quantitative, Electrochemistry, Device, Combination, integration, nitrocellulose, Nitrocellulose membrane, near-field communication, Blood samples, enzyme, reagents, Nucleocapsid proteins, polyester, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid, carbon, reagent, board, diagnostic reliability, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, whole blood sample, IMPROVE, performed, required, hydrophilic, anti-N antibody, plasma extraction, 【제목키워드】 Point,