Using low-cost disposable immunosensor based on flexible PET screen-printed electrode modified with carbon black and gold nanoparticles for sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2

doi:10.1016/j.talo.2023.100201

Talanta Open

Volume 7, August 2023, 100201

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talo.2023.100201 Get rights and content

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Abstract

To help meet the global demand for reliable and inexpensive COVID-19 testing and environmental analysis of SARS-CoV-2, the present work reports the development and application of a highly efficient disposable electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical and environmental matrices. The sensor developed is composed of a screen-printed electrode (SPE) array which was constructed using conductive carbon ink printed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate made from disposable soft drink bottles. The recognition site (Spike S1 Antibody (anti-SP Ab)) was covalently immobilized on the working electrode surface, which was effectively modified with carbon black (CB) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The immunosensing material was subjected to a multi-technique characterization analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental analysis via energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The electrochemical characterization of the electrode surface and analytical measurements were performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The immunosensor was easily applied for the conduct of rapid diagnoses or accurate quantitative environmental analyses by setting the incubation period to 10 min or 120 min. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor presented limits of detection (LODs) of 101 fg mL⁻¹ and 46.2 fg mL⁻¹ for 10 min and 120 min incubation periods, respectively; in addition, the sensor was successfully applied for SARS-CoV-2 detection and quantification in clinical and environmental samples. Considering the costs of all the raw materials required for manufacturing 200 units of the AuNP-CB/PET-SPE immunosensor, the production cost per unit is 0.29 USD.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

PET

Screen-printed electrode

Electrochemical immunosensor

Carbon black

Gold nanoparticles

Low-cost diagnosis

SARS-CoV-2

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

Cited by (0)

Luís M. C. Ferreira graduated in chemistry (Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora) in 2008, moved to USP-São Paulo where concluded his master (2011) and Ph.D. (2016) with emphasis in analytical chemistry. Started as post-doctoral researcher at Universidade Federal de São Carlos in 2020. Luís has experience in the construction of electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on screen-printed electrodes modified with nanobiomaterials and metalloporphyrins.

Isabela F. Reis Undergraduate environmental engineering student at Universidade Federal de São Carlos since 2018. Works under supervision on prof. Fernando Campanhã Vicentini on the research of electrochemical biosensors toward environmental analysis.

Paulo R. Martins Graduated in chemistry (Universidade Federal de Santa Maria) in 2007 and concluded his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at USP-São Paulo, where finished his and postdoctoral research. Started to teach at Universidade Federal de Goiás at 2014 and works on research based on electrochemistry and development on new materials for energy storage devices and sensors.

Luiz H. Marcolino-Junior received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Brazil, in 2007. He is a professor in the Chemistry Department at Universidade Federal do Paraná (DQ-UFPR). His-current research interests are the development of electrochemical sensors using nanostructured materials and the development of microfluidic devices with electrochemical response.

Marcio F. Bergamini received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in 2007 from Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara-SP, Brazil. He is currently a Professor of Chemistry at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba-PR, Brazil. His-principal research interest comprises the development of a new electrochemical sensor for the determination of inorganic and organic compounds in pharmaceutical, biological, or environmental samples.

Jessica R. Camargo graduated in chemistry at Universidade Federal de São Carlos in 2019 and started her Ph.D. at the same institution in 2020. She works on research in materials science and electrochemistry focused development of sensors and biosensors.

Bruno Campos Janegitz received Ph.D. degree from Federal University of São Carlos, in 2012. He was a postdoctoral researcher at University of São Paulo between 2012 and 2014. At present, he is Professor at Federal University of São Carlos. His-research interests include electroanalytical chemistry, nanostructured electrode materials and modified electrode surfaces, electrochemical sensors and biosensors for medical and environmental analysis.

Fernando Campanhã Vicentini received his MS degree in Chemistry from the University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP (Brazil) in 2009 and PhD degree in Analytical chemistry from the Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP (Brazil) in 2013. He was a postdoctoral researcher at Federal University of São Carlos between 2013 and 2015. Currently, he is associate professor at Federal University of São Carlos, Buri, SP (Brazil). His-research interests include the study of new electrode materials, CNTs, graphene, carbon black, carbon materials, metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles, hybrid materials, polymers, ultrathin films, nanostructured materials and the development of electrochemical sensors and biosensors for environmental, medical and clinical samples.