Sensitive detection of virus with broad dynamic range based on highly bright quantum dot-embedded nanoprobe and magnetic beads

As virus spread can lead to severe epidemics and pandemics associated with high mortality, it is necessary to have a highly sensitive detection method for viruses. Although various detection methods have been developed so far, current methods in detecting a virus require preprocessing and involve quite intricate processes of low sensitivity. Here, we have developed a virus detection method with a broad dynamic range and high sensitivity, based on immuno-complex formation between quantum dot (QD)-embedded silica nanoparticles (QD(2)) and magnetic beads. The multiple QD- containing QD(2)s showed 500 times stronger photoluminescence than individual QDs. When biotin was immobilized as a ligand, streptavidin was detected in a range of 10 zM to 10 nM. The clinical applicability of the QD(2)-based system was examined using the avian virus (i.e., H1N1 influenza virus), and it showed a detection range of 4.76 x 10(-4)< span class="xps_thinspace"> similar to 3.2 hemagglutination unit/mL. This result is comparable to the polymerase chain reaction method, and is approximately 2100 times more sensitive than the conventional hemagglutination method. Since the QD(2)-based system could detect target molecules with high sensitivity without requiring an amplification step, it can be applied in various biomedical and clinical fields. (C) 2020 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.