Accurate identification of SARS-CoV-2 variant delta using graphene/CRISPR-dCas9 electrochemical biosensor

Delta (B.1.617.2), a highly infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2, has been sweeping the world, and threatening the safety of human life seriously. It is urgent to develop a highly selective and sensitive assay to accurately identify the SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta. In this work, we constructed a graphene/CRISPR-dCas9 electrochemical biosensor to accurately identify SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta, where the signal was further amplified by embedded electro-chemical probe [Ru(phen)2dppz]BF4. This detection assay could be finished within 47 min totally, with the detection limit of 1.2 pM and good reproducibility with a C.V.% of 2.48% (n = 5). And the biosensor could selectively identify Delta among SARS-CoV-2 and other variants, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma. This assay was further validated by 26 real clinical samples, showing 100% clinical sensitivity and 100% clinical specificity, which provides a new direction for identifying other SARS-CoV-2 variants in the future.

Automated summary

A highly selective and sensitive detection method has been developed to accurately identify the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. The assay has the advantages of rapidity, high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and the ability to differentiate between different SARS-CoV-2 variants, which has been validated in clinical samples.