Ultrafast, sensitive, and portable detection of COVID-19 IgG using flexible organic electrochemical transistors

Liu, Hong; Yang, Anneng; Song, Jiajun; Wang, Naixiang; Lam, Puiyiu; Li, Yuenling; Law, Helen Ka-wai; Yan, Feng

The outbreak of COVID-19 and its continued spread have seriously threatened public health. Antibody testing is essential for infection diagnosis, seroepidemiological analysis, and vaccine evaluation. However, convenient, fast, and accurate antibody detection remains a challenge in this protracted battle. Here, we report an ultrafast, low-cost, label-free, and portable SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection platform based on organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), which can be remotely controlled by a mobile phone. To enable faster detection, voltage pulses are applied on the gate electrode of the OECT to accelerate binding between the antibody and antigen. By optimizing ion concentrations and pH values of test solutions, we realize specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in several minutes with a detectable region from 10 fM to 100 nM, which encompasses the range of serum SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels in humans. These portable sensors show promise for use in diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19.