November 27, 2023
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Article
Hybrid Gold

Free PCR virus detection via few-layer bismuthene and tetrahedral DNA nanostructured assemblies

Publicated to:TALANTA. 269 125405- - 2024-03-01 269(), DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125405

Authors: Gutierrez-Galvez, Laura; Garcia-Fernandez, Daniel; del Barrio, Melisa; Luna, Monica; Torres, Inigo; Zamora, Felix; Navio, Cristina; Milan-Rois, Paula; Castellanos, Milagros; Abreu, Melanie; Canton, Rafael; Galan, Juan Carlos; Somoza, Alvaro; Miranda, Rodolfo; Garcia-Mendiola, Tania; Lorenzo, Encarnacion

Affiliations

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas - Author
Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Epidemiologia y Salud Publica - Author
CSIC CEI UAM CSIC, Inst Micro & Nanotecnol IMN CNM, Madrid 28760, Spain - Author
Ctr Invest Biomed Red Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBER, Madrid, Spain - Author
Hosp Univ Ramon y Cajal, Serv Microbiol, Madrid 28034, Spain - Author
IFIMAC-Condensed Matter Physics Center - Author
IFIMAC-Condensed Matter Physics Center , Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
IMDEA Nanociencia - Author
IMDEA Nanociencia , Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
IMDEA Nanociencia, Ciudad Univ Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
IMN-Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología (CNM-CSIC) - Author
Inst Ramon Y Cajal Invest Sanitaria IRYCIS, Madrid 28034, Spain - Author
Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas CIBERINFEC, Madrid, Spain - Author
Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria - Author
Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria , Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid UAM, Dept Quim Analit & Anal Instrumental, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Condensed Matter Phys Ctr IFIMAC, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Quim Inorgan, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Inst Adv Res Chem Sci IAdChem, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Complutense Madrid, Fac Quim, Dept Quim Analit, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
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Abstract

In this work we describe a highly sensitive method based on a biocatalyzed electrochemiluminescence approach. The system combines, for the first time, the use of few-layer bismuthene (FLB) as a platform for the oriented immobilization of tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) specifically designed and synthetized to detect a specific SARS-CoV-2 gene sequence. In one of its vertices, these TDNs contain a DNA capture probe of the open reading frame 1 ab (ORF1ab) of the virus, available for the biorecognition of the target DNA/RNA. At the other three vertices, there are thiol groups that enable the stable anchoring/binding to the FLB surface. This novel geometry/approach enables not only the binding of the TDNs to surfaces, but also the orientation of the capture probe in a direction normal to the bismuthine surface so that it is readily accessible for binding/recognition of the specific SARS-CoV-2 sequence. The analytical signal is based on the anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity of luminol which, in turn, arises as a result of the reaction with H2O2, generated by the enzymatic reaction of glucose oxidation, catalyzed by the biocatalytic label avidin-glucose oxidase conjugate (Av-GOx), which acts as co-reactant in the electrochemiluminescent reaction. The method exhibits a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.31 aM and a wide linear range from 14.4 aM to 1.00 μM, and its applicability was confirmed by detecting SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal samples from COVID-19 patients without the need of any amplification process.

Keywords

biocatalysisdna biosensorelectrochemiluminescencefew -layer bismuthenefew-layer bismutheneplatformsars-cov-2tetrahedral dna nanostructuresBiocatalysisBiosensing techniquesDnaDna biosensorDna probesElectrochemical techniquesElectrochemiluminescenceFew-layer bismutheneHumansHydrogen peroxideLimit of detectionLuminescent measurementsNanostructuresPolymerase chain reactionRamanSars-cov-2Tetrahedral dna nanostructures

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal TALANTA due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 12/106, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Chemistry, Analytical.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 1.33, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-19, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 4
  • Scopus: 4

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-19:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 10.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 10 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 2.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 2 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10486/709726

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (GUTIERREZ GALVEZ, LAURA) and Last Author (LORENZO ABAD, ENCARNACION).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been GARCIA MENDIOLA, TANIA.