Sensitive electrochemical gold nanoparticle-based immunosensor for norovirus detection in food samples

• Published in: RSC advances 2024-02, Vol.14 (9), p.628-64
• Main Authors: Janicka, Paulina, Baluta, Sylwia, Winiarski, Juliusz, Halicka-St pie, Kinga, Pogorzelska, Aleksandra, Cabaj, Joanna, Pala, Katarzyna, Ba anów, Barbara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Biosensors; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Food; Gold; Immunosensors; Linearity; Nanoparticles; Proteins; Self-assembly; Voltammetry
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08586d

Norovirus (NoV) infection is one of the most common non-bacterial causes of gastroenteritis among the population worldwide. From the point of view of medical diagnostics, it is important to develop a system that would sensitively and selectively detect norovirus from a patient's sample in order to control and limit its spread. In this paper, we present a stable and sensitive NoV (mouse model) detection matrix in infected food samples. The bio-platform was made of a modified gold electrode with a self-assembled l -cysteine monolayer, covered with gold nanoparticles, a linker and an antibody specific to the VP1 surface protein of the virus. Binding of the VP1 protein to the antibody caused a decrease in the current strength confirmed by electrochemical techniques - cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry. The reduction of the current was proportional to the concentration of NoV sample. The biosensors showed high sensitivity and linearity in a range from 1 × 10 −9 to 1 × 10 −18 TCID 50, with the detection limit of 1 × 10 −18 TCID 50. CV showed a diffusion-controlled process. In addition, each modification step was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and CV. The described immunosensor showed excellent recovery values, good linearity and long-term stability, crucial parameters for biosensor construction. Detection of Norovirus (NoV), a prevalent non-bacterial gastroenteritis agent globally, is crucial. Developing a biosensor for NoV detection is of utmost importance.