Polyaniline/Titania Nanotube-Based Biosensor Strip for Sensitive and Specific Electrochemical Detection of SARS-CoV-2

This study showcases the creation of a biosensor strip designed for the rapid, precise, and highly sensitive electrochemical detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These biosensor strips were crafted by affixing a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to SARS-CoV-2 onto the surface of a commercially screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with polyaniline-titania nanotubes (PANi-TNT). The transportable sensing device was constructed by pairing the mAb functionalized strip with a portable potentiostat wirelessly connected to either a Windows or Android device. Fast and specific conjugation between spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and immobilized anti-SARS-CoV-2 triggered a change in the charge and electron mobility in the biosensing layer of the strip to produce detectable current during chronoamperometric scanning in the presence of a phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The excellent sensitivity and specificity of the sensor toward SARS-CoV-2 were detected as analytical analysis demonstrated linearity in the range of 80 to 200 copies/μL with a limit of detection of 25.59 copies/μL from the dose-response and standard fitted curve. Through experimental validation, the sensor strip's ability to specifically detect SARS-CoV-2 was established, distinguishing it from human coronavirus-OC43 (HCoV-OC43), HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, and adenovirus. The results from these tests indicate that these strips possess the potential for the future creation of dependable and easily transportable point-of-care diagnostic devices, enabling swift, sensitive, and precise detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva or nasopharyngeal fluid of individuals infected with the virus.