Aptamer Conjugated Gold Nanostar-Based Distance-Dependent Nanoparticle Surface Energy Transfer Spectroscopy for Ultrasensitive Detection and Inactivation of Corona Virus

Pramanik, Avijit; Gao, Ye; Patibandla, Shamily; Mitra, Dipanwita; McCandless, Martin G.; Fassero, Lauren A.; Gates, Kalein; Tandon, Ritesh; Ray, Paresh Chandra

[Image: see text] The ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus infection has killed more than 2 million people. Herein, we demonstrate that Rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G) dye conjugated DNA aptamer-attached gold nanostar (GNS)-based distance-dependent nanoparticle surface energy transfer (NSET) spectroscopy has the capability of rapid diagnosis of specific SARS-CoV-2 spike recombinant antigen or SARS-CoV-2 spike protein pseudotyped baculovirus within 10 min. Because Rh-6G-attached single-stand DNA aptamer wrapped the GNS, 99% dye fluorescence was quenched because of the NSET process. In the presence of spike antigen or virus, the fluorescence signal persists because of the aptamer–spike protein binding. Specifically, the limit of detection for the NSET assay has been determined to be 130 fg/mL for antigen and 8 particles/mL for virus. Finally, we have demonstrated that DNA aptamer-attached GNSs can stop virus infection by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor binding capability and destroying the lipid membrane of the virus.