Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Detection by Carbon Nanotube-Based Near-Infrared Nanosensors

Abstract

To effectively track and eliminate COVID-19, it is critical to develop tools for rapid and accessible diagnosis of actively infected individuals. Here, we introduce a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based optical sensing approach towards these ends. We construct a nanosensor based on SWCNTs noncovalently functionalized with ACE2, a host protein with high binding affinity for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Presence of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein elicits a robust, two-fold nanosensor fluorescence increase within 90 min of spike protein exposure. We characterize the nanosensor stability and sensing mechanism, and passivate the nanosensor to preserve sensing response in saliva and viral transport medium. We further demonstrate that these ACE2-SWCNT nanosensors retain sensing capacity in a surface-immobilized format, exhibiting a 73% fluorescence turn-on response within 5 s of exposure to 35 mg/L SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles. Our data demonstrate that ACE2-SWCNT nanosensors can be developed into an optical tool for rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Dendron-Polymer Hybrids as Tailorable Coronae of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube

“…PEG was proven to be a suitable polymer for the dispersion of SWCNTs, providing a hydrophilic shell for their stable suspensions in water and biological media and being relatively inert towards protein interaction. 28,49,50 The dendritic architecture exposes four hydrophobic end-groups, enabling non-covalent binding to the SWCNTs. To create a set of polymer-dendrons, two aliphatic and two aromatic end-groups were coupled via an ester group in two different orientations to the dendritic body (Fig.…”

Dendron-Polymer Hybrids as Tailorable Coronae of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube

“…PEG was proven to be a suitable polymer for the dispersion of SWCNTs, providing a hydrophilic shell for their stable suspensions in water and biological media and being relatively inert towards protein interaction. 28,49,50 The dendritic architecture exposes four hydrophobic end-groups, enabling non-covalent binding to the SWCNTs. To create a set of polymer-dendrons, two aliphatic and two aromatic end-groups were coupled via an ester group in two different orientations to the dendritic body (Fig.…”

State-of-the-art colloidal particles and unique interfaces-based SARS-CoV-2 detection methods and COVID-19 diagnosis

“…An optical nanosensor based on non-covalently functionalized SWCNTs with ACE2 proteins was developed recently ( 62 ). The nanosensor principle depends on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein presence, which leads to an increase in nanosensor fluorescence within 90 minutes of exposure to the spike protein.…”

“…Sensor responded in the salivary samples and virus transport environments. It is shown that ACE2-SWCNT nanosensors retain detection capability in a modified surface with a 73% fluorescence turn-on response within 5 seconds of exposure to 35 mg/L SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles ( 62 ).…”