Abstract
Rapid, mass diagnosis of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critical to stop the ongoing infection spread. The two standard screening methods to confirm the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are polymerase chain reaction (PCR), through the RNA of the virus, and serology by detecting antibodies produced as a response to the viral infection. However, given the detection complexity, cost and relatively long analysis times of these techniques, novel technologies are urgently needed. Here, we report an aptamer-based biosensor developed on a screen-printed carbon electrode platform for rapid, sensitive, and user-friendly detection of SARS-CoV-2. The aptasensor relies on an aptamer targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) in the spike protein (S-protein) of the SARS-CoV-2. The aptamer immobilization on gold nanoparticles, and the presence of S-protein in the aptamer-target complex, investigated for the first time by photo-induced force microscopy mapping between 770 and 1910 cm -1 of the electromagnetic spectrum, revealed abundant S-protein homogeneously distributed on the sensing probe. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 S-protein was achieved by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy after 40 min incubation with several analyte concentrations, yielding a limit of detection of 1.30 pM (66 pg/mL). Moreover, the aptasensor was successfully applied for the detection of a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, thus suggesting it is a promising tool for the diagnosis of COVID-19.
Keywords: Aptasensor; Detection; Photo-induced force microscopy; S-protein; SARS-CoV-2.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, detection, aptasensor, Photo-induced force microscopy, S-protein, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, viral infection, Coronavirus disease 2019, coronavirus, serology, antibody, Infection, Diagnosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, virus, Spike protein, RNA, aptamer, Spread, polymerase chain reaction, PCR, Receptor-binding domain, Screen, RBD, Microscopy, limit of detection, Rapid, gold, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, Critical, platform, S-protein, Analysis, Chain Reaction, acute respiratory syndrome, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, complex, carbon, screening method, probe, concentrations, electromagnetic spectrum, polymerase chain, produced, investigated, applied, the spike protein, the receptor-binding domain, diagnosis of COVID-19, the SARS-CoV-2, yielding, 【제목키워드】 Microscopy,