1
|
Nie W, Zhang R, Hu C, Jin T, Wei X, Cui H. A self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence array chip for portable label-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein with smartphone. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 240:115662. [PMID: 37669588 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection plays a key role in the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19. However, current clinically used immunoassays are often limited by assay throughput, sensitivity, accuracy, and field operating conditions. To address these challenges, we constructed a self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) array chip (SE2AC) for highly sensitive and label-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N protein) with a facile and portable assay setup. Firstly, the self-enhanced ECL nanomaterials with inherent film-forming properties were synthesized by co-doping Ru(bpy)32+ and polyethyleneimine (PEI) in silica nanoparticles (Ru/PEI@SiO2). Secondly, a resistance-induced potential difference-based single-electrode electrochemical system (SEES) was adapted to serve as the electrode array to facilitate one-step assembly without the need for chip alignment. Thirdly, the chip electrode array was functionalized with the synthesized self-enhanced ECL emitters and captured antibodies. In addition, a portable detection box equipped with a smartphone was 3D-printed to serve as the chip holder and "dark room" for imaging acquisition. The SE2AC performance was validated with N protein with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.47 pg/mL in the range of 1-10,000 pg/mL. Furthermore, the chip successfully detected the viral antigen residue as low as 1.92 pg/mL from diluted rehabilitation patients' serum samples. This is the first study reporting label-free detection of SARS-Cov-2 N protein based on a self-enhanced ECL immunosensor, which provides a novel facile method for highly sensitive diagnosis of COVID-19 with high throughput, portability, and low cost.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Nie
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Ruoxian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Chao Hu
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Tengchuan Jin
- Laboratory of Structural Immunology, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, PR China
| | - Xi Wei
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China.
| | - Hua Cui
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|