Label-Free SARS-CoV-2 Detection on Flexible Substrates (preprint)

ABSTRACT

One of the most important strategies for mitigation and managing pandemics is widespread, rapid and inexpensive testing and isolation of infected patients. In this study, we demonstrate large area, label-free, and rapid testing sensor platforms fabricated on both rigid and flexible substrates for fast and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2. SERS enhancing metal insulator metal (MIM) nanostructures are modeled using finite element simulations and then fabricated using nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and transfer printing. The SERS signal of various viral samples, including spiked saliva, was analyzed using machine learning classifiers. We observe that our approach can obtain the test results typically within 25 minutes with a detection accuracy of at least 83% for the viral samples. We envision that this approach which features large area nanopatterning, fabrication in both rigid and flexible formats for wearables, SERS spectroscopy and machine learning can enable new types of rapid, label-free biosensors for screening pathogens and managing current and future pandemics.