Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein in Serum Using Aptamer-Functionalized AFM Chips

In the present study, we demonstrate atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles in serum samples using a chip with aptamer-functionalized surface (apta-based AFM chip). The target particles, containing core antigen of HCV (HCVcoreAg protein), were biospecifically captured onto the chip surface from 1 mL of test solution containing 10 µL of serum collected from a hepatitis C patient. The registration of aptamer/antigen complexes on the chip surface was performed by AFM. The aptamers used in the present study were initially developed for therapeutic purposes; herein, these aptamers have been successfully utilized as probe molecules for HCVcoreAg detection in the presence of a complex protein matrix (human serum). The results obtained herein can be used for the development of detection systems that employ affine enrichment for protein detection.