Colorimetric viral detection based on sialic acid stabilized gold nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Virology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Influenza virus detection is crucial for public health.
• Current diagnostic methods can be time-consuming or require complex equipment.
• Developing rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic tools is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, green synthesis method for sialic acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles.
• To utilize these nanoparticles for the colorimetric detection of influenza virus.
• To investigate the specificity and sensitivity of the developed detection method.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a one-pot green method, functionalizing them with sialic acid without chemical modification.
• Investigated the aggregation of AuNPs upon interaction with influenza virus particles, leveraging the hemagglutinin-sialic acid binding mechanism.
• Performed colorimetric analysis by measuring changes in optical density correlated with varying dilutions of inactivated influenza B/Victoria and B/Yamagata strains.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized stable gold nanoparticles (20.1±1.8 nm) coated with sialic acid.
• Demonstrated target-specific aggregation of AuNPs with influenza virus particles.
• Observed a linear correlation between optical density changes and influenza B virus dilution, detecting concentrations as low as 0.156 vol% (hemagglutination assay titer, 512).
• Indicated that increasing the amount of sialic acid-gold nanoparticles can extend the linear detection range.

Conclusions:

• The developed green synthesis method provides a straightforward route to sialic acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles.
• These nanoparticles offer a promising platform for sensitive and specific colorimetric detection of influenza virus.
• The method holds potential for developing rapid point-of-care diagnostic tools for influenza.