SARS-CoV-2 virus label-free electrochemical nanohybrid MIP-aptasensor based on Ni(3)(BTC)(2) MOF as a high-performance surface substrate

A dual recognition biosensor was developed via introducing aptamer strings and molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of intact SARS-CoV-2 virus based on screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with nickel-benzene tricarboxylic acid-metal–organic framework (Ni(3)(BTC)(2) MOF) synthesized by in situ growth method, SARS-CoV-2 S protein-specific amino-aptamer and electropolymerization of dopamine (ePDA). The proposed biosensor showed an excellent linear relationship between charge transfer resistance (R(ct)) and increase in virus concentration in the range 10 to 10(8) plaque-forming units/mL (PFU/mL) with a low detection limit of 3.3 ± 0.04 PFU/mL and response time of 20 min. Compared with single-element sensors (aptamer or MIP), it showed higher selectivity for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and facilitated detection in real samples. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00604-022-05357-8.