Treatment of nonwoven polypropylene to increase adsorption of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the respiratory transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in millions of deaths. While the production of a vaccine has greatly reduced mortality and hospitalization where available, lack of vaccine availability and mutations of the virus render masking a vital strategy for reducing the spread of disease. Increasing the efficacy of a mask to adsorb the virus has significant potential to reduce disease spread. Nonwoven polypropylene (PP) is used as a filtration layer in N-95 masks and other over the counter masks. To increase the adsorption of the virus, the nonwoven PP layer was treated with oxygen plasma, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and hyaluronic acid (HA). The treated materials were evaluated over one month and found to increase adsorption of the spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virion.

A novel colorimetric biosensor for detecting SARS-CoV-2 by utilizing the interaction between nucleocapsid antibody and spike proteins

SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic coronavirus that causes severe respiratory disease (COVID-19) in humans and is responsible for millions of deaths around the world since early 2020. The virus affects the human respiratory cells through its spike (S) proteins located at the outer shell. To monitor the rapid spreading of SARS-CoV-2 and to reduce the deaths from the COVID-19, early detection of SARS-CoV-2 is of utmost necessity. This report describes a flexible colorimetric biosensor capable of detecting the S protein of SARS-CoV-2. The colorimetric biosensor is made of polyurethane (PU)-polydiacetylene (PDA) nanofiber composite that was chemically functionalized to create a binding site for the receptor molecule—nucleocapsid antibody (anti-N) protein of SARS-CoV-2. After the anti-N protein conjugation to the functionalized PDA fibers, the PU-PDA-NHS-anti fiber was able to detect the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 at room temperature via a colorimetric transition from blue to red. The PU-PDA nanofiber-based biosensors are flexible and lightweight and do not require a power supply such as a battery when the colorimetric detection to S protein occurs, suggesting a sensing platform of wearable devices and personal protective equipment such as face masks and medical gowns for real-time monitoring of virus contraction and contamination. The wearable biosensors could significantly power mass surveillance technologies to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Graphical Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44164-022-00022-z.