Aptamer-Functionalized Nanochannels for One-Step Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Samples from COVID-19 Patients

Anal Chem. 2021 Dec 14;93(49):16646-16654. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04156. Epub 2021 Nov 30.

Abstract

With the outbreak of COVID-19, which is fast transmitting and highly contagious, the development of rapid, highly specific, and sensitive detection kits has become a research hotspot. The existing assay methods for SARS-CoV-2 are mainly based on enzymatic reactions, which require expensive reagents, hindering popular use, especially in resource-constrained areas. Herein, we propose an aptamer-based method for the assay of SARS-CoV-2 via binding of the spike protein using functionalized biomimetic nanochannels. To get the analogous effect of human ACE2, a receptor for the spike protein, the aptamer to bind to the spike S1 protein has been first screened by a SELEX technique and then immobilized on the previously prepared nanochannels. In the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the changes in steric hindrance and charge density on the surface of the nanochannels will affect the ion transport, along with a rapid electrochemical response. Our method has been successfully applied to detect the viral particles in clinical pharyngeal swab specimens in one step without sample treatment. We expect this rapid, reagent-free, and sensitive assay method to be developed as a useful tool for diagnosing COVID-19.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2*