Sensing the classical swine fever virus with molecularly imprinted polymer on quartz crystal microbalance

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease in pigs caused by the virus of the same name (classical swine fever virus CSFV). Economical reasons dictate the need for rapid early detection of this pathogen Herein we report on a sensor for CSFV detection based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) making use of me Arty imprinted polymer (MIP) as the receptor. It relies on a copolymer comprising acrylamide (AAM), methacrylic acid (MAA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and n-rolidone (VP). SEM images of CSFV MIP reveal cavities on the polymer surface with an average diameter d = 59 nm, which correlates well with the dimensions of CSFV particles. QCM sensor measurements yield concentration dependent CSFV sensor responses resulting in LOD = 1.7 mu g/mL, LOQ = 5.1 mu g/mL and R-2 = 0.9963. Furthermore, CSFV-MIP sensors selectively bind CSFV with selectivity factors of 2 over porcine respiratory and reproductive virus (PRRSV) and 62 over pseudorabies virus (PRV), respectively Finally, sensor responses turned out fully reversible.