Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

Point-of-care (POC) antigen detection plays a crucial role in curbing the spread of viruses. Paper-based fluorescence aptasensors are expected to offer a low-cost tool to meet the needs of decentralized POC diagnosis. Herein, we report on a fluorescent paper-based sensing system for detecting the SA...

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Main Authors: Jincai Yang, Zunquan Zhao, Tianyi Ma, Jialei Bai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1637
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author Jincai Yang
Zunquan Zhao
Tianyi Ma
Jialei Bai
author_facet Jincai Yang
Zunquan Zhao
Tianyi Ma
Jialei Bai
author_sort Jincai Yang
collection DOAJ
description Point-of-care (POC) antigen detection plays a crucial role in curbing the spread of viruses. Paper-based fluorescence aptasensors are expected to offer a low-cost tool to meet the needs of decentralized POC diagnosis. Herein, we report on a fluorescent paper-based sensing system for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The sensing system was constructed by loading multi-layer Nb<sub>2</sub>C MXene nano-quenchers and carbon-dot-labeled aptamer (G-CDs@Apt) probes onto a mixed cellulose ester (MCE) paper substrate. On the Nb<sub>2</sub>C MXene/G-CDs@Apt sensing paper, abundant G-CDs@Apt probes were attached to the multilayer MXene nano-quenchers and kept in a fluorescence-off state, while recognition of the target detached the G-CDs@Apt probes formed the nano--quenchers, resulting in fluorescence recovery of the sensing paper. The developed paper-based sensor performed well in the one-step detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein with a detection limit of 0.067 ng/mL (0.335 pg/test). The assay exhibited good selectivity and anti-interference in the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein in artificial saliva. Moreover, the paper-based aptasensor was successfully used to detect the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein in actual environmental samples with recoveries of 90.87–100.55% and relative standard deviations of 1.52–3.41%. The proposed technology provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional antibody test strips for a wide range of POC diagnostic applications.
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spelling doaj-art-efc73b23aabc4805a89c5391fb2337de2025-08-20T01:49:03ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-03-01256163710.3390/s25061637Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike ProteinJincai Yang0Zunquan Zhao1Tianyi Ma2Jialei Bai3Tianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Military Medical Sciences Academy, Academy of Military Sciences, Tianjin 300050, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Military Medical Sciences Academy, Academy of Military Sciences, Tianjin 300050, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Military Medical Sciences Academy, Academy of Military Sciences, Tianjin 300050, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Military Medical Sciences Academy, Academy of Military Sciences, Tianjin 300050, ChinaPoint-of-care (POC) antigen detection plays a crucial role in curbing the spread of viruses. Paper-based fluorescence aptasensors are expected to offer a low-cost tool to meet the needs of decentralized POC diagnosis. Herein, we report on a fluorescent paper-based sensing system for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The sensing system was constructed by loading multi-layer Nb<sub>2</sub>C MXene nano-quenchers and carbon-dot-labeled aptamer (G-CDs@Apt) probes onto a mixed cellulose ester (MCE) paper substrate. On the Nb<sub>2</sub>C MXene/G-CDs@Apt sensing paper, abundant G-CDs@Apt probes were attached to the multilayer MXene nano-quenchers and kept in a fluorescence-off state, while recognition of the target detached the G-CDs@Apt probes formed the nano--quenchers, resulting in fluorescence recovery of the sensing paper. The developed paper-based sensor performed well in the one-step detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein with a detection limit of 0.067 ng/mL (0.335 pg/test). The assay exhibited good selectivity and anti-interference in the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein in artificial saliva. Moreover, the paper-based aptasensor was successfully used to detect the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein in actual environmental samples with recoveries of 90.87–100.55% and relative standard deviations of 1.52–3.41%. The proposed technology provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional antibody test strips for a wide range of POC diagnostic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1637SARS-CoV-2fluorescent detectionpaper-based assayspike proteinaptamer
spellingShingle Jincai Yang
Zunquan Zhao
Tianyi Ma
Jialei Bai
Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
Sensors
SARS-CoV-2
fluorescent detection
paper-based assay
spike protein
aptamer
title Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
title_full Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
title_fullStr Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
title_full_unstemmed Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
title_short Aptamer Paper-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
title_sort aptamer paper based fluorescent sensor for determination of sars cov 2 spike protein
topic SARS-CoV-2
fluorescent detection
paper-based assay
spike protein
aptamer
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1637
work_keys_str_mv AT jincaiyang aptamerpaperbasedfluorescentsensorfordeterminationofsarscov2spikeprotein
AT zunquanzhao aptamerpaperbasedfluorescentsensorfordeterminationofsarscov2spikeprotein
AT tianyima aptamerpaperbasedfluorescentsensorfordeterminationofsarscov2spikeprotein
AT jialeibai aptamerpaperbasedfluorescentsensorfordeterminationofsarscov2spikeprotein