A novel enhanced substrate for label-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 359; p. 131568
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhe, Jiang, Shen, Wang, Xiaotong, Dong, Tuo, Wang, Yunpeng, Li, Dan, Gao, Xin, Qu, Zhangyi, Li, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Elsevier B.V 15.05.2022; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Chemotherapy; Enhanced substrate; Human adenovirus; Influenza virus; Nanoparticles; Raman spectra; Reducing agents; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Silver; Substrates; Surface-enhanced Raman scattering; Viral diseases; Virus detection; Viruses; Enhanced substrate; SARS-CoV-2; Virus detection; Surface-enhanced Raman scattering; Influenza virus; Human adenovirus
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077; 0925-4005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.131568

Accurate and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 is an effective strategy for preventing the COVID-19 pandemic in the current absence of specific drug therapy. This study presents a novel enhanced substrate for label-free detection of respiratory viruses using surface-enhanced Raman Scattering. Sodium borohydride reduces silver ions to clustered silver nanoparticles to eliminate the disorganized peak signal of the traditional citrate reducing agent. Meanwhile, the study obtained the fingerprints and concentration-dependent curves of many respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, human adenovirus type 7, and H1N1 virus, with good linear relationships. The three viruses were also identified in serum and saliva within two minutes, combined with linear discriminant diagnostic analysis. Therefore, establishing this enhanced substrate is greatly valuable for the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. •The use of sodium borohydride can not only avoid interference signal, but also enhance SERS signal.•A variety of viruses including SARS-CoV-2 were detected without labels based on Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering.•The detection limit of SARS-CoV-2 can be reached 10 copies/test, and the cost is lower.•The signal of these viruses can be obtained in saliva and serum.•LDA was applied to identify viruses within 2 min, which meets the standard of practical application in clinical diagnosis.