Using an NFC potentiostat to quantify SARS-CoV-2 antibodies via electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Description:
Point-of-care (POC) serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 can improve the reliability of testing for COVID-19 and are essential for population-wide seroprevalence studies. Electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (eELISA) is a relatively rapid and sensitive method of antibody quantification, making it applicable to POC sensors. However, traditional potentiostats are not amenable to POC applications due to their size, cost, and requirement for training. The goal of this research is to demonstrate that a simple and inexpensive smartphone-powered near-field communication (NFC) potentiostat can be used to develop a disposable, rapid, and sensitive electrochemical sensor to quantify SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
Here, a fundamental characterization of the NFC potentiostat is performed using several model analytes (ferricyanide, ruthenium hexamine, and dopamine). Then, a static eELISA is optimized using modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) to detect nucleocapsid protein antibodies with the NFC potentiostat. Finally, a capillary-flow driven microfluidic device is interfaced with the NFC-SPCE to perform timed, automated reagent delivery for eELISA. The results of this research are significant because the NFC potentiostat is characterized, and its use for quantifying biologically relevant analytes via an electrochemical assay is demonstrated.

Speaker: Kira Rahn - Colorado State University
Kira Rahn is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Chuck Henry's group at Colorado State University. She received her Ph.D. from Iowa State University where she was advised by Robbyn K. Anand. Before pursuing a graduate degree, Kira obtained a B.A. in Mathematics and Chemistry from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.