2 research outputs found
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-Based Sandwich Immunoassays for Multiplexed Detection of Zika and Dengue Viral Biomarkers
Zika and dengue are
mosquito-borne diseases that present similar nonspecific symptoms
but possess dramatically different outcomes. The first line of defense
in epidemic outbreaks are rapid point-of-care diagnostics. Because
many outbreaks occur in areas that are resource poor, assays that
are easy to use, inexpensive, and require no power have become invaluable
in patient treatment, quarantining, and surveillance. Paper-based
sandwich immunoassays such as lateral flow assays (LFAs) are attractive
as point-of-care solutions as they have the potential for wider deployability
than lab-based assays such as PCR. However, their low sensitivity
imposes limitations on their ability to detect low biomarker levels
and early diagnosis. Here, we exploit the high sensitivity of surface-enhanced
Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in a multiplexed assay that can distinguish
between Zika and dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) biomarkers.
SERS-encoded gold nanostars were conjugated to specific antibodies
for both diseases and used in a dipstick immunoassay, which exhibited
15-fold and 7-fold lower detection limits for Zika NS1 and dengue
NS1, respectively. This platform combines the simplicity of a LFA
with the high sensitivity of SERS and could not only improve Zika
diagnosis but also detect diseases sooner after infection when biomarker
levels are low