Rapid, high-sensitivity detection of biomolecules using dual-comb biosensing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Physics
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Rapid and sensitive detection of biomolecules is crucial for diagnosing infectious diseases like COVID-19.
• Current biosensing methods for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) require enhancement for widespread application.
• Optical biosensing offers potential but faces challenges in sensitivity and speed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid and sensitive biosensor for detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen.
• To enhance optical biosensing performance using optical frequency combs (OFC).
• To improve the applicability of biosensors for detecting viruses, biomarkers, and pollutants.

Main Methods:

• Utilized optical frequency combs (OFC) to convert virus concentration-dependent optical spectrum shifts into radio-frequency (RF) shifts.
• Employed a dual-comb configuration for active-dummy temperature-drift compensation.
• Leveraged well-established electrical frequency measurements for signal analysis.

Main Results:

• Achieved rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen.
• Demonstrated successful extraction of small concentration-dependent signals from large, variable background noise.
• Validated the effectiveness of temperature-drift compensation in dual-comb biosensing.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-comb biosensing technology significantly enhances the performance of optical biosensors.
• This approach facilitates highly sensitive and rapid detection of viral antigens.
• The enhanced biosensing platform holds promise for diverse applications including pathogen detection and environmental monitoring.