TY - GEN
T1 - V-Pods: Rapid, Sensitive Detection of Intact SARS-CoV-2 using DNA Nets and a Smartphone-Linked Fluorimeter
AU - Chauhan, Neha
AU - Wang, Weijing
AU - Lee, Han Keun
AU - Xiong, Yanyu
AU - Zhang, Tianyi
AU - Magazine, Nicholas
AU - Peng, Lu
AU - Zhou, Lifeng
AU - Huang, Weishan
AU - Wang, Xing
AU - Cunningham, Brian T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 SPIE.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Rapid, simple, inexpensive, and sensitive self-testing for SARS-CoV-2 is expected to be an important element of controlling the ongoing COVID pandemic. We report a novel approach in which saliva is mixed at room temperature with a Designer DNA Nanostructure (DDN) engineered to create a net-like structure that positions an array of highly specific nucleic acid aptamer-quencher locks at the locations of the trimeric spike proteins. When the spike proteins selectively unlock aptamers on the DDN, fluorescent reporter molecules are unquenched, generating an intense and easily measured optical signal. The fluorescence intensity, proportional to the virus concentration, is detected by a battery-powered palm-sized fluorimeter, whose functions are managed wirelessly with a Bluetooth-linked smartphone. Because the single-step, room temperature, test is performed in a conventional 0.2 mL PCR tube that is inserted into the fluorimeter, which resembles an Apple AirPods™ headphone case, we call the technology (DDN+fluorimeter+App) a “V-Pod.” We show that DDNs are highly specific only for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in both its initial form as well as common variants. The approach achieves a detection limit of 10,000 genome copies/mL, consistent with laboratory-based PCR, while requiring only one reagent and a 5-10 minute incubation time with saliva. Because DDNs are inexpensively synthesized, structurally stable nucleic acid constructs, and the V-Pod instrument is comprised of inexpensive electronic and photonic components, the approach offers potential for rapid self-monitoring of viral infection with integrated capability for contact tracing and interaction with health services.
AB - Rapid, simple, inexpensive, and sensitive self-testing for SARS-CoV-2 is expected to be an important element of controlling the ongoing COVID pandemic. We report a novel approach in which saliva is mixed at room temperature with a Designer DNA Nanostructure (DDN) engineered to create a net-like structure that positions an array of highly specific nucleic acid aptamer-quencher locks at the locations of the trimeric spike proteins. When the spike proteins selectively unlock aptamers on the DDN, fluorescent reporter molecules are unquenched, generating an intense and easily measured optical signal. The fluorescence intensity, proportional to the virus concentration, is detected by a battery-powered palm-sized fluorimeter, whose functions are managed wirelessly with a Bluetooth-linked smartphone. Because the single-step, room temperature, test is performed in a conventional 0.2 mL PCR tube that is inserted into the fluorimeter, which resembles an Apple AirPods™ headphone case, we call the technology (DDN+fluorimeter+App) a “V-Pod.” We show that DDNs are highly specific only for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in both its initial form as well as common variants. The approach achieves a detection limit of 10,000 genome copies/mL, consistent with laboratory-based PCR, while requiring only one reagent and a 5-10 minute incubation time with saliva. Because DDNs are inexpensively synthesized, structurally stable nucleic acid constructs, and the V-Pod instrument is comprised of inexpensive electronic and photonic components, the approach offers potential for rapid self-monitoring of viral infection with integrated capability for contact tracing and interaction with health services.
KW - biosensors
KW - diagnostics
KW - point of care
KW - SARS-CoV-2
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135921242&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85135921242&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.2617550
DO - 10.1117/12.2617550
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85135921242
T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
BT - Smart Biomedical and Physiological Sensor Technology XIX
A2 - Cullum, Brian M.
A2 - Kiehl, Douglas
A2 - McLamore, Eric S.
PB - SPIE
T2 - Smart Biomedical and Physiological Sensor Technology XIX 2022
Y2 - 6 June 2022 through 12 June 2022
ER -