Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and its S and N proteins using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Sanchez, J. E.; Jaramillo, S. A.; Settles, E.; Salazar, J. J. V.; Lehr, A.; Gonzalez, J.; Aranda, C. R.; Navarro-Contreras, H. R.; Raniere, M. O.; Harvey, M.; Wagner, D. M.; Koppisch, A.; Kellar, R.; Keim, P.; Yacaman, M. J.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical need for accurate and rapid testing for virus detection. This need has generated a high number of new testing methods aimed at replacing RT-PCR, which is the golden standard for testing. Most of the testing techniques are based on biochemistry methods and require chemicals that are often expensive and the supply might become scarce in a large crisis. In the present paper we suggest the use of methods based on physics that leverage novel nanomaterials. We demonstrate that using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) of virion particles a very distinct spectroscopic signature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be obtained. We demonstrate that the spectra are mainly composed by signals from the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. It is believed that a clinical test using SERS can be developed. The test will be fast, inexpensive, and reliable. It is also clear that SERS can be used for analysis of structural changes on the S and N proteins. This will be an example of application of nanotechnology and properties of nanoparticles for health and social related matters.