An ultrasensitive molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensor for the determination of SARS-CoV-2-RBD by using macroporous gold screen-printed electrode

Highlights

• The macroporous gold screen printed electrode was used for the fabrication of the MIP sensor.

• The MIP sensor was applied for measuring the SARS-Cov-2-RBD concentration in the saliva sample up to 40 pg mL^-1.

• The limit of detection of the MIP sensor was found to be 0.7 pg mL^-1 (3-4.8 × 10² Virus.μL^-1).

• The apparent dissociation was found to be 2.7 pg mL^-1.

Abstract

Herein, a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based electrochemical sensor for the determination of the receptor-binding domain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2-RBD) has been developed. For this purpose, first, a macroporous gold screen-printed electrode (MP-Au-SPE) has been fabricated. The MIP was then synthesized on the surface of the MP-Au-SPE through the electro-polymerization of ortho-phenylenediamine in the presence of SARS-CoV-2-RBD molecules as matrix polymer, and template molecules, respectively. During the fabrication process, the SARS-CoV-2-RBD molecules were embedded in the polymer matrix. Subsequently, the template molecules were removed from the electrode by using alkaline ethanol. The template molecules removal was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (ATR). The fabricated MIP film acted as an artificial recognition element for the measurement of SARS-CoV-2-RBD. The EIS technique was used for the measurement of the SARS-CoV-2-RBD in the saliva solution. The electron transfer resistance (R_et) of the MIP-based sensor in a ferri/ferrocyanide solution increased as the SARS-CoV-2-RBD concentration increased due to the occupation of the imprinted cavities by the SARS-CoV-2-RBD. The MIP-based sensor exhibited a good response to the SARS-CoV-2-RBD in the concentration range between 2.0 and 40.0 pg mL^-1 with a limit of detection of 0.7 pg mL^-1. The obtained results showed that the fabricated MIP sensor has high selectivity sensitivity, and stability.