Self-Assembly of Single-Virus SERS Hotspots for Highly Sensitive In Situ Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Solid Surfaces

Anal Chem. 2024 May 28;96(21):8830-8836. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01607. Epub 2024 May 1.

Abstract

Microbial surface transmission has aroused great attention since the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Developing a simple in situ detection method for viruses on solid surfaces is of great significance for timely public health surveillance. Taking advantage of the natural structure of SARS-CoV-2, we reported the assembly of Au@AgNPs on the surface of a single virus by the specific aptamer-spike protein interaction. Multiple hotspots can be created between the neighboring Au@AgNPs for the highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of SARS-CoV-2. Using two different aptamers labeled with Cy3 and Au@AgNPs, in situ SERS detection of pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 (PSV) on packaging surfaces was achieved within 20 min, with a detection limit of 5.26 TCID50/mL. For the blind testing of 20 PSV-contaminated packaging samples, this SERS aptasensor had a sensitivity of 100% and an accuracy of 100%. This assay has been successfully applied to in situ detection of PSV on the surfaces of different packaging materials, suggesting its potential applicability.

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide* / chemistry
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • COVID-19* / virology
  • Gold* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection*
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • SARS-CoV-2* / isolation & purification
  • Silver* / chemistry
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman* / methods
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / analysis
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2