An Ultrasensitive SPR biosensor for RNA detection based on robust GeP5 nanosheets

Shaopeng Chang; Lixuan Liu; Congpu Mu; Fusheng Wen; Jianyong Xiang; Kun Zhai; Bochong Wang; Leiming Wu; Anmin Nie; Yu Shu; Tianyu Xue; Zhongyuan Liu

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.064

An Ultrasensitive SPR biosensor for RNA detection based on robust GeP₅ nanosheets

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2023 Dec:651:938-947. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.064. Epub 2023 Aug 11.

Authors

Shaopeng Chang¹, Lixuan Liu², Congpu Mu¹, Fusheng Wen¹, Jianyong Xiang¹, Kun Zhai¹, Bochong Wang¹, Leiming Wu³, Anmin Nie¹, Yu Shu⁴, Tianyu Xue⁵, Zhongyuan Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China.
² Institute of Quantum Materials and Devices, School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China. Electronic address: lixuanliu@tiangong.edu.cn.
³ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Information Photonics Technology, School of Information Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
⁴ Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China. Electronic address: shuyu@ysu.edu.cn.
⁵ Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China. Electronic address: tyxue@ysu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37579668
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.064

Abstract

Ultrasensitive and rapid detection of biomarkers is among the upmost priorities in promoting healthcare advancements. Improved sensitivity of photonic sensors based on two-dimensional (2D) materials have brought exciting prospects for achieving real-time and label-free biosensing at dilute target concentrations. Here, we report a high-sensitivity surface plasmon resonance (SPR) RNA sensor using metallic 2D GeP₅ nanosheets as the sensing material. Theoretical evaluations revealed that the presence of GeP₅ nanosheets can greatly enhance the plasmonic electric field of the Au film thereby boosting sensing sensitivity, and that optimal sensitivity (146° RIU^-1) can be achieved with 3-nm-thick GeP₅. By functionalizing GeP₅ nanosheets with specific cDNA probes, detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA sequences were achieved using the GeP₅-based SPR sensor, with high sensitivity down to a detection limit of 10 aM and excellent selectivity. This work demonstrates the immense potential of GeP₅-based SPR sensors for advanced biosensing applications and paves the way for utilizing GeP₅ nanosheets in novel sensor devices.

Keywords: Biosensor; GeP(5) nanosheets; Gold nanoparticles; RNA detection; Surface plasmon resonance.

MeSH terms

Biosensing Techniques* / methods
COVID-19* / diagnosis
Humans
RNA, Viral
SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
Surface Plasmon Resonance / methods

Substances

RNA, Viral