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Leonardi AA, Sciuto EL, Lo Faro MJ, Fazio B, Rizzo MG, Calabrese G, Francioso L, Picca R, Nastasi F, Mancuso G, Spinella C, Knoll W, Irrera A, Conoci S. SARS-CoV-2 and omicron variant detection with a high selectivity, sensitivity, and low-cost silicon bio-nanosensor. NANO SELECT 2022; 4:NANO202200188. [PMID: 36721465 PMCID: PMC9880655 DOI: 10.1002/nano.202200188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for novel point-of-care devices to be promptly used for a rapid and reliable large screening analysis of several biomarkers like genetic sequences and antibodies. Currently, one of the main limitations of rapid tests is the high percentage of false negatives in the presence of variants and, in particular for the Omicron one. We demonstrate in this work the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron variant with a cost-effective silicon nanosensor enabling high sensitivity, selectivity, and fast response. We have shown that a silicon (Si) nanowires (NW) platform detects both Sars-CoV-2 and its Omicron variant with a limit of detection (LoD) of four effective copies (cps), without any amplification of the genome, and with high selectivity. This ultrasensitive detection of 4 cps allows to obtain an extremely early diagnosis paving the way for efficient and widespread tracking. The sensor is made with industrially compatible techniques, which in perspective may allow easy and cost-effective industrialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Alessio Leonardi
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Ettore Majorana”Università degli studi di CataniaCataniaItaly
- CNR‐IMM Catania UniversitàIstituto per la Microelettronica e MicrosistemiCataniaItaly
| | - Emanuele Luigi Sciuto
- Lab SENS Beyond NanoCNRMessinaItaly
- Dipartimento di Scienze ChimicheBiologiche, Farmaceutiche, ed AmbientaliUniversità degli studi di MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Maria José Lo Faro
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Ettore Majorana”Università degli studi di CataniaCataniaItaly
- CNR‐IMM Catania UniversitàIstituto per la Microelettronica e MicrosistemiCataniaItaly
| | | | - Maria Giovanna Rizzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze ChimicheBiologiche, Farmaceutiche, ed AmbientaliUniversità degli studi di MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Giovanna Calabrese
- Dipartimento di Scienze ChimicheBiologiche, Farmaceutiche, ed AmbientaliUniversità degli studi di MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Luca Francioso
- CNR‐IMMIstituto per la Microelettronica e MicrosistemiVia MonteroniUniversity CampusLecceItaly
| | - Rosaria Picca
- Dipartimento di ChimicaUniversità degli studi di BariBariItaly
| | - Francesco Nastasi
- Dipartimento di Scienze ChimicheBiologiche, Farmaceutiche, ed AmbientaliUniversità degli studi di MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Dipartimento di Patologia Umana dell'adulto e dell'età evolutiva Gaetano BarresiUniversità degli studi MessinaGazzi (Me)Italy
| | - Corrado Spinella
- Lab SENS Beyond NanoCNRMessinaItaly
- CNR‐IMM Istituto per la Microelettronica e MicrosistemiZona IndustrialeCataniaItaly
| | - Wolfgang Knoll
- Department of Scientific Coordination and ManagementDanube Private UniversityKremsAustria
| | | | - Sabrina Conoci
- Lab SENS Beyond NanoCNRMessinaItaly
- Dipartimento di Scienze ChimicheBiologiche, Farmaceutiche, ed AmbientaliUniversità degli studi di MessinaMessinaItaly
- CNR‐IMM Istituto per la Microelettronica e MicrosistemiZona IndustrialeCataniaItaly
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician"Università degli studi di BolognaBolognaItaly
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Automated liquid handling robot for rapid lateral flow assay development. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:2607-2618. [PMID: 35091761 PMCID: PMC8799445 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-03897-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe lateral flow assay (LFA) is one of the most popular technologies on the point-of-care diagnostics market due to its low cost and ease of use, with applications ranging from pregnancy to environmental toxins to infectious disease. While the use of these tests is relatively straightforward, significant development time and effort are required to create tests that are both sensitive and specific. Workflows to guide the LFA development process exist but moving from target selection to an LFA that is ready for field testing can be labor intensive, resource heavy, and time consuming. To reduce the cost and the duration of the LFA development process, we introduce a novel development platform centered on the flexibility, speed, and throughput of an automated robotic liquid handling system. The system comprises LFA-specific hardware and software that enable large optimization experiments with discrete and continuous variables such as antibody pair selection or reagent concentration. Initial validation of the platform was demonstrated during development of a malaria LFA but was readily expanded to encompass development of SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis LFAs. The validity of the platform, where optimization experiments are run directly on LFAs rather than in solution, was based on a direct comparison between the robotic system and a more traditional ELISA-like method. By minimizing hands-on time, maximizing experiment size, and enabling improved reproducibility, the robotic system improved the quality and quantity of LFA assay development efforts.
Graphical abstract
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Grant BD, Anderson CE, Alonzo LF, Garing SH, Williford JR, Baughman TA, Rivera R, Glukhova VA, Boyle DS, Dewan PK, Weigl BH, Nichols KP. A SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus nucleocapsid protein antigen-detecting lateral flow assay. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258819. [PMID: 34758052 PMCID: PMC8580225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Inexpensive, simple, rapid diagnostics are necessary for efficient detection, treatment, and mitigation of COVID-19. Assays for SARS-CoV2 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) offer good sensitivity and excellent specificity, but are expensive, slowed by transport to centralized testing laboratories, and often unavailable. Antigen-based assays are inexpensive and can be rapidly mass-produced and deployed at point-of-care, with lateral flow assays (LFAs) being the most common format. While various manufacturers have produced commercially available SARS-Cov2 antigen LFAs, access to validated tests remains difficult or cost prohibitive in low-and middle-income countries. Herein, we present a visually read open-access LFA (OA-LFA) using commercially-available antibodies and materials for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The LFA yielded a Limit of Detection (LOD) of 4 TCID50/swab of gamma irradiated SARS-CoV-2 virus, meeting the acceptable analytical sensitivity outlined by in World Health Organization target product profile. The open-source architecture presented in this manuscript provides a template for manufacturers around the globe to rapidly design a SARS-CoV2 antigen test.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luis F. Alonzo
- Global Health Labs, Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - John R. Williford
- Intellectual Ventures Lab, Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ted A. Baughman
- Global Health Labs, Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
| | - Rafael Rivera
- Global Health Labs, Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
| | | | | | - Puneet K. Dewan
- Global Health Labs, Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Kevin P. Nichols
- Global Health Labs, Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
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Grant BD, Anderson CE, Williford JR, Alonzo LF, Glukhova VA, Boyle DS, Weigl BH, Nichols KP. SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Antigen-Detecting Half-Strip Lateral Flow Assay Toward the Development of Point of Care Tests Using Commercially Available Reagents. Anal Chem 2020; 92:11305-11309. [PMID: 32605363 PMCID: PMC7409939 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c01975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created an unprecedented need for rapid diagnostic testing to enable the efficient treatment and mitigation of COVID-19. The primary diagnostic tool currently employed is reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which can have good sensitivity and excellent specificity. Unfortunately, implementation costs and logistical problems with reagents during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have hindered its universal on demand adoption. Lateral flow assays (LFAs) represent a class of diagnostic that, if sufficiently clinically sensitive, may fill many of the gaps in the current RT-PCR testing regime, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To date, many serology LFAs have been developed, though none meet the performance requirements necessary for diagnostic use cases, primarily due to the relatively long delay between infection and seroconversion. However, on the basis of previously reported results from SARS-CoV-1, antigen-based SARS-CoV-2 assays may have significantly better clinical sensitivity than serology assays. To date, only a very small number of antigen-detecting LFAs have been developed. Development of a half-strip LFA is a useful first step in the development of any LFA format. In this work, we present a half-strip LFA using commercially available antibodies for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. We have tested this LFA in buffer and measured an LOD of 0.65 ng/mL (95% CI of 0.53 to 0.77 ng/mL) ng/mL with recombinant antigen using an optical reader with sensitivity equivalent to a visual read. Further development, including evaluating the appropriate sample matrix, will be required for this assay approach to be made useful in a point of care setting, though this half-strip LFA may serve as a useful starting point for others developing similar tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D. Grant
- Intellectual Ventures
Laboratory, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, Washington 98007,
United States
| | - Caitlin E. Anderson
- Intellectual Ventures
Laboratory, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, Washington 98007,
United States
| | - John R. Williford
- Intellectual Ventures
Laboratory, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, Washington 98007,
United States
| | - Luis F. Alonzo
- Intellectual Ventures
Laboratory, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, Washington 98007,
United States
| | - Veronika A. Glukhova
- Intellectual Ventures
Laboratory, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, Washington 98007,
United States
| | - David S. Boyle
- PATH, 2201 Westlake,
Seattle, Washington 98121, United States
| | - Bernhard H. Weigl
- Intellectual Ventures
Laboratory, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, Washington 98007,
United States
| | - Kevin P. Nichols
- Intellectual Ventures
Laboratory, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, Washington 98007,
United States
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