Rapid detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 is critical for COVID-19 diagnostics, epidemiological research, and studies related to vaccine evaluation. It is known that the nucleocapsid (N) is the most abundant protein of SARS-CoV-2 and can serve as an excellent biomarker due to its strong immunogenicity. This paper reports a rapid and ultrasensitive 3D biosensor for quantification of COVID-19 antibodies in seconds via electrochemical transduction. This sensor consists of an array of threedimensional micro-length-scale electrode architecture that is fabricated by aerosol jet 3D printing, which is an additive manufacturing technique. The micropillar array is coated with N proteins via an intermediate layer of nano-graphene and is integrated into a microfluidic channel to complete an electrochemical cell that uses antibodyantigen interaction to detect the antibodies to the N protein. Due to the structural innovation in the electrode geometry, the sensing is achieved in seconds, and the sensor shows an excellent limit of detection of 13 fm and an optimal detection range of 100 fm to 1 nM. Furthermore, the sensor can be regenerated at least 10 times, which reduces the cost per test. This work provides a powerful platform for rapid screening of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 after infection or vaccination.
SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines have contributed to the control of COVID‐19 in some parts of the world. However, the constant emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) challenges the effectiveness of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines over time. In particular, Omicron contains a high number of mutations in the spike (S) protein gene, on which most vaccines were developed. In this study, we quantitated neutralizing antibodies in vaccine recipients at various times postvaccination using S protein‐based pseudoviruses derived from wild type (WT) SARS‐CoV‐2 and five VOCs including Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529). We found that two‐dose mRNA‐1273 and BNT162b2 vaccines elicited robust neutralizing antibodies against WT, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, but wanned after 6 months with a faster decline observed for BNT162b2. Both mRNA‐1273 and BNT162b2 elicited weak neutralizing antibodies against Omicron. One dose of Ad26.COV2.S vaccine induced weaker neutralizing antibodies against WT and most VOCs than mRNA‐1273 and BNT162b2 did but moderate neutralizing antibodies against Delta and Omicron, which lasted for 6 months. These results support current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a booster 5 months after full immunization with an mRNA‐based vaccine and the use of an mRNA‐based vaccine 2 months after Ad26.COV2.S vaccination.
Front Cover Caption: The cover image is based on the Research Article Ultrarapid and ultrasensitive detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in COVID‐19 patients via a 3D‐printed nanomaterial‐based biosensing platform by Md. Azahar Ali et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.28075.
Rapid detection of antibodies during infection and after vaccination is critical for the control of infectious outbreaks, understanding immune response, and evaluating vaccine efficacy. In this manuscript, we evaluate a simple ultrarapid test for SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in COVID‐19 patients, which gives quantitative results (i.e., antibody concentration) in 10–12 s using a previously reported nanomaterial‐based three‐dimensional (3D)‐printed biosensing platform. This platform consists of a micropillar array electrode fabricated via 3D printing of aerosolized gold nanoparticles and coated with nanoflakes of graphene and specific SARS‐CoV‐2 antigens, including spike S1, S1 receptor‐binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid (N). The sensor works on the principle of electrochemical transduction, where the change of sensor impedance is realized by the interactions between the viral proteins attached to the sensor electrode surface and the antibodies. The three sensors were used to test samples from 17 COVID‐19 patients and 3 patients without COVID‐19. Unlike other serological tests, the 3D sensors quantitatively detected antibodies at a concentration as low as picomole within 10–12 s in human plasma samples. We found that the studied COVID‐19 patients had higher concentrations of antibodies to spike proteins (RBD and S1) than to the N protein. These results demonstrate the enormous potential of the rapid antibody test platform for understanding patients' immunity, disease epidemiology and vaccine efficacy, and facilitating the control and prevention of infectious epidemics.
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