New analytical techniques that overcome major drawbacks of current routinely used viral infection diagnosis methods, i.e., the long analysis time and laboriousness of real-time reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the insufficient sensitivity of "antigen tests", are urgently needed in the context of SARS-CoV-2 and other highly contagious viruses. Here, we report on an antifouling terpolymer-brush biointerface that enables the rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in untreated clinical samples. The developed biointerface carries a tailored composition of zwitterionic and non-ionic moieties and allows for the significant improvement of antifouling capabilities when postmodified with biorecognition elements and exposed to complex media. When deployed on a surface of piezoelectric sensor and postmodified with human-cell-expressed antibodies specific to the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2, it made possible the quantitative analysis of untreated samples by a direct detection assay format without the need of additional amplification steps. Natively occurring N-protein−vRNA complexes, usually disrupted during the sample pre-treatment steps, were detected in the untreated clinical samples. This biosensor design improved the bioassay sensitivity to a clinically relevant limit of detection of 1.3 × 10 4 PFU/mL within a detection time of only 20 min. The high specificity toward N-protein-vRNA complexes was validated both by mass spectrometry and qRT-PCR. The performance characteristics were confirmed by qRT-PCR through a comparative study using a set of clinical nasopharyngeal swab samples. We further demonstrate the extraordinary fouling resistance of this biointerface through exposure to other commonly used crude biological samples (including blood plasma, oropharyngeal, stool, and nasopharyngeal swabs), measured via both the surface plasmon resonance and piezoelectric measurements, which highlights the potential to serve as a generic platform for a wide range of biosensing applications.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has become a worldwide problem with more than 169 million people infected by May 2021. Here we demonstrate a unique technology, based on the quartz crystal microbalance method, for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2. This biosensor fulfils all of the many requirements for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 in complex samples. This is achieved by a tailored antifouling surface post-modified with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N). The A-QCM profits from absence of sample pre-treatment and utilizes the natural properties of N protein, which forms complexes with vRNA. Thanks to this, the clinically relevant LOD of 6.7×10 3 PFU/mL was reached using one-step detection assay. The A-QCM biosensor was also validated with clinical samples (i.e. nasopharyngeal swabs) with full agreement with qRT-PCR. The A-QCM biosensor was also utilized for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in surface swabs in means of public transport.

A gas-phase deposition process based on the combination of nanoparticles (NPs) and thin films is developed to obtain either superhydrophobic or superamphiphilic nanocomposite coatings on filtration membranes. Superhydrophobic membranes are produced on nonwoven viscose fabric and they demonstrate selective absorption of nonpolar organic solvents from oil/water mixtures. Superamphiphilic membranes are produced on carbon cloth and found suitable for smart separation of light oil or heavy oil from water, with the efficiency above 99.97%. Incorporation of Cu NPs endow both types of the membranes with antibacterial properties. A twofold reduction in the metabolic activity of Escherichia coli is achieved after 24 hr of the incubation, which proves this environmentally friendly approach to be perspective for the development of multifunctional porous K E Y W O R D S antibacterial properties, nanocomposite coatings, oil/water separation, selective absorption, superhydrophobicity, underwater superoleophobicity Plasma Process Polym. 2019;16:e1900003 www.plasma-polymers.com

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