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Peptide Amphiphile Mediated Co-assembly for Nanoplasmonic Sensing
Zhicheng Jin1, Yi Li1, Ke Li2,3
1Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|November 21, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a novel colorimetric biosensor for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 biomarker Mpro protease. The peptide-based sensor offers a simple, visual method for Mpro detection in various samples.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Aromatic interactions are crucial in natural self-assembly and can be engineered for functional materials.
- Surfactant-like peptides (SLPs) offer tunable properties for creating advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a colorimetric biosensor for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 biomarker Mpro protease.
- To utilize co-assembly of gold nanoparticles and SLPs for protease detection.
Main Methods:
- Co-assembly of plasmonic gold nanoparticles with engineered SLPs (DDD-(ZZ)x-FFPC).
- SLP self-assembly triggered by protease activity, modulating gold nanoparticle dispersity.
- Colorimetric readout based on changes in colloidal gold aggregation.
Main Results:
- Engineered SLPs self-assemble in response to Mpro protease.
- Protease-induced SLP assembly alters gold nanoparticle dispersity, causing a color change.
- The biosensor demonstrated specificity for Mpro and achieved low nanomolar detection limits in buffer, saliva, and breath condensate.
Conclusions:
- The developed SLP-gold co-assembly system provides a simple, visual, and sensitive method for Mpro protease detection.
- This approach shows potential for developing new diagnostic tools for SARS-CoV-2 and other protease-related biomarkers.
