Detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein by screen-printed carbon electrodes modified by colloidal gold nanoparticles

Abstract

In this work, electrochemical bioanalytical systems for the determination of antibodies against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike protein (anti-rS) is reported. Environmentally friendly chemicals were applied in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs were integrated onto the screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPE), and the biological recognition part was based on recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (rS), which during the immobilization was cross-linked by glutaraldehyde. Immobilized rS protein based biological recognition part enabled selective recognition of anti-rS antibodies. The current flux of AuNPs reduction (at +200 mV) in a pure phosphate buffer (PB) was employed as the transduction signal. It has been reported that the formation of anti-rS layers on the surface of AuNPs delays the electrode response time (ts), tracked at the current flux density values of 80 μA cm−2. Using the AuNP-modified SPE, we demonstrated a rapid anti-rS detection within a detection limit of 2 ng mL−1 (0.125 binding antibody units mL−1, 17 pM). This system can be applied to track the response of immune system towards SARS-CoV-2 infection and monitoring of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).