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Dual-mode aptamer-driven biosensing platform for ultrasensitive and mutation-resilient detection of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein

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Dual-mode aptamer-driven biosensing platform for ultrasensitive and mutation-resilient detection of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein

Zhou Shu
Xu Yuxi
Liao Huan
Ou Hailong
Qi Dan
Wu Yatao
Liu Yunyi
Li Juan
Li Jiaxuan
Shi Bi
Zhu Fei
Zhang Siran
Huang Jason H.
Wu Erxi
Hu Xiaoxiao
Genes & Diseases第13卷, 第3期纸质出版 2026-05-01在线发表 2025-11-19
300

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a significant global health threat because of its rapid evolution and high mutation rate, which limits the performance of existing molecular diagnostics. This study presents a dual-mode, aptamer-based detection platform that combines high sensitivity with mutation resilience. Using a computer-assisted X-aptamer Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) approach, we identified NP14, a high-affinity, dual-target DNA aptamer that specifically binds to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein at its N-terminal domain. Analyses via molecular docking, aptamer truncation, and targeted mutagenesis revealed that NP14 interacted with both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV N proteins and identified key nucleotides C24 and G27 of the P1 region and structural determinants critical for its high-affinity binding. Building on this discovery, we engineered a dual-mode biosensing system by integrating NP14 into a multicolor dynamic light scattering-enhanced enzyme-linked aptamer-antibody assay (MD ELAAA). MD ELAAA synergistically combines two complementary detection strategies: i) non-aggregative plasmonic colorimetry for visual signal detection and ii) dynamic light scattering for ultrasensitive quantitative analysis, in which Au/Ag nanomaterials are used to amplify optical and scattering signals. This system achieves a sensitivity of 0.43 TCID50/mL, representing a 47-fold improvement over standard methods. By integrating high sensitivity, specificity, variant recognition, and dual-mode signal output, the MD ELAAA platform enables reliable detection of low-abundance SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Its robust performance supports early-stage diagnostics and high-throughput variant monitoring, establishing MD ELAAA as a robust platform for next-generation viral detection and surveillance.

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AptamerAptamer-antibody sandwich assayDynamic light scatteringMutationSARS-CoV-2 N protein