Detection of viruses by probe-gated silica nanoparticles directly from swab samples

Student admission to the Atılım University Department of Nutrition and Dietetics started in 2017. Our Department is the only academic institution to offer undergraduate-level education completely in English in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics in Ankara. The studies of our department may be classified into two main categories; education and research. The current education programs are offered taking into consideration the awareness of the responsibility in offering a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics; by competent instructors in the field, and with an inter-disciplinary approach. Our aim for the future alumni of our undergraduate program is to undertake their responsibilities in the light of their information with a professional insight, and the confidence to constantly update themselves at hospitals, polyclinics, public health centers, ministries, catering institutions, food companies, universities and such where they may be employed in positions such as health care professionals, academicians, researchers, directors or policy makers.

Abstract

Viral infection has been one of the major health issues for human life. The real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based detection has primarily been used for virus detection as a highly reliable procedure. However, it is a relatively long and multi-stage process. In addition, required skilled personnel and complex instrumentation presents difficulties in large scale monitoring efforts. Therefore, we report here a direct and fast detection method for CoV-2 genome as applied in the nose-throat swab samples without any further processing. The detection principle is based on fluorescein-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles capped by specific gene sequences probes immobilized on the surface of the nanoparticles. Upon hybridization with the target viral genome, the fluorescein molecules were released from the mesopores. Testing with synthetic oligonucleotides, the NSP12 gene-based detection resulted in a strong signal. Target detection time could be optimized to 15 min and the limit of detection was 1.4 RFU with 84% sensitivity with clinical samples (n = 43).

Description

Tuna, Bilge Guvenc/0000-0003-1348-1336; Kavruk, Murat/0000-0001-5331-7253; Dursun, Ali Dogan/0000-0001-9056-0025; Özalp, Veli Cengiz/0000-0002-7659-5990; DEMIR TEKOL, Serap/0000-0002-6525-1818; YALCINKAYA, DILARA BUSE/0000-0002-8712-2179; ERCAN, MELTEM/0000-0003-2313-6325