Sensitive detection of influenza a virus based on a CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dot-linked rapid fluorescent immunochromatographic test

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol. 155; p. 112090
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Anh Viet Thi, Dao, Tung Duy, Trinh, Tien Thi Thuy, Choi, Du-Young, Yu, Seung-Taek, Park, Hyun, Yeo, Seon-Ju
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Biosensing Techniques; Cadmium Compounds; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Immunoassay - methods; Immunoassay - standards; Immunoconjugates; Influenza a virus; Influenza A virus - classification; Influenza A virus - genetics; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; Influenza, Human - virology; Quantum dot fluorescent dye; Quantum Dots - chemistry; Quantum Dots - ultrastructure; Rapid fluorescent immunochromatographic test; Reagent Strips; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reproducibility of Results; Selenium Compounds; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sulfides; Zinc Compounds; Rapid fluorescent immunochromatographic test; Quantum dot fluorescent dye; Influenza a virus
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112090

Prevention is the most effective management strategy for influenza A infection in humans. In this study, we developed a CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dot (QD) fluorescent dye for rapid and sensitive detection of two common subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2) of influenza A virus, and examined its utility. CdSe/CdS/ZnS QD was conjugated with antibody (Ab) after conjugation with latex, making QD conjugate of QD + Latex + Ab. A stable photoluminescence of QD conjugate and advantage of CdSe/CdS/ZnS QD used was characterized in this study. The performance of a rapid fluorescent immunochromatographic test (FICT) employing QD conjugate (QD-FICT) in detecting influenza A/H1N1 was 8-fold and 64-fold higher than that of a europium nanoparticle-based FICT and a rapid diagnostic test (RDT; Standard Diagnostics BIOLINE Influenza A/B), respectively. For influenza A/H3N2, QD-FICT showed 8-fold and 128-fold higher performance than europium nanoparticle-based FICT and RDT, respectively. In clinical evaluations, QD-FICT showed 93.75% clinical sensitivity [45/48; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 82.80–98.69], 100% clinical specificity (117/117; 95% CI: 96.90–100.00), and strong correlation (kappa; 0.98) with rRT-PCR (20 ≤ Ct ≤ 40). Europium nanoparticle-linked FICT showed 79.17% clinical sensitivity (38/48; 95% CI: 65.01–89.53) and 100% clinical specificity (117/117; 95% CI: 96.90–100.00), whereas RDT showed 77.08% sensitivity (37/48; 95% CI: 62.69–87.97), 100% specificity (117/117; 95% CI: 96.90–100.00), and reasonably good correlation with rRT-PCR (kappa; 0.93). Water-soluble QDs can therefore be used as an effective material for developing fluorescent diagnostic systems for rapid detection of human influenza A virus in clinical specimens. •CdSe/CdS/ZnS QD possessed higher quantum yield than (CuInS2) (CIS) QD.•Latex-mediated QD conjugate has better performance than polymer-coated QD conjugate to detect influenza A virus.•Photoluminescence (PL) of CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dot (QD) on latex was maintained in the presence of bovine serum albumin under UV irradiation.•QD-mediated FICT showed higher clinical sensitivity than europium nanoparticle by detecting the low amount of virus-infected patients.