Fuel Cell Virus Sensor Using Virus Capture within Antibody-Coated Nanochannels

• Published in: Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2013-02, Vol.85 (3), p.1350-1357
• Main Authors: Wei, Yanyan, Wong, Lai Peng, Toh, Chee-Seng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aedes; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - chemistry; Antibodies, Monoclonal - metabolism; Dengue Virus - chemistry; Dengue Virus - metabolism; Ferrocyanides - chemistry; Fuel cells; Membranes; Mice; Nanotubes - chemistry; Polymerase chain reaction; Sensors; Viruses
• ISSN: 0003-2700; 1520-6882
• DOI: 10.1021/ac302942y

We report a unique fuel cell sensor system for the first time direct detection of unlabeled virus particles based on the formation of antibody–virus complexes within the sensor’s membrane nanochannels. This strategy exploits the change in the membrane resistance of the powered system, comprising a Prussian blue nanotubes (PB-nt) membrane cathode and a platinum mesh anode. The method reports an impressive shortest response time of ∼5 min toward the specific virus target, at low concentration values of 3–45 plaque-forming units per milliliter (pfu mL–1) with detection limit of 0.04 pfu mL–1, comparable to state-of-the-art polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. The sensor can clearly differentiate dengue virus serotype 2 from serotype 3. When filled with Nafion perfluorinated resin, the PB-nt membrane demonstrates powerful utilization as a stand-alone fuel cell based virus sensor, and thus offers the outstanding promise of a sustainable, low-cost, and rapid low-power virus detection tool.