SERS-Based Biosensors for Virus Determination with Oligonucleotides as Recognition Elements

Abstract

Viral infections are among the main causes of morbidity and mortality of humans; sensitive and specific diagnostic methods for the rapid identification of viral pathogens are required. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is one of the most promising techniques for routine analysis due to its excellent sensitivity, simple and low-cost instrumentation and minimal required sample preparation. The outstanding sensitivity of SERS is achieved due to tiny nanostructures which must be assembled before or during the analysis. As for specificity, it may be provided using recognition elements. Antibodies, complimentary nucleic acids and aptamers are the most usable recognition elements for virus identification. Here, SERS-based biosensors for virus identification with oligonucleotides as recognition elements are reviewed, and the potential of these biosensors is discussed.

Keywords: SERS; aptamer; biosensors; nanoparticle; nucleic acids; oligonucleotide; virus.

Figure 1

Label-free identification of cells infected with different influenza viruses based on SERS with further principal component analysis (PCA). Reproduced with permission from [43]. Copyright American Chemical Society, 2019.

Figure 2

ASO-based identification of viral genomes in nanoparticle solution. High specificity is achieved due to a ternary complex with ASO labeled with a Raman-active compound. Reproduced with permission from [54]. Copyright American Chemical Society, 2012.

Figure 3

ASO-based identification of viral genome on solid substrates. Ternary complex formation is necessary for the generation of a SERS signal. Viral genome is shown in blue, and primary and secondary ASO are shown in black and magenta, respectively. Reproduced with permission from [55]. Copyright Wiley, 2017.

Figure 4

Aptamer-based identification of viral particles on solid substrates. High specificity is achieved due to the presence of a ternary complex with aptamers labeled with Raman-active compounds. Reproduced with permission from [64].