A virus resonance light scattering sensor based on mussel-inspired molecularly imprinted polymers for high sensitive and high selective detection of Hepatitis A Virus

We described a novel resonance light scattering (RLS) sensor for the specific recognition of trace quantities of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV); the sensor was based on a mussel-inspired hepatitis molecularly imprinted polymer. As a recognition element, polydopamine (PDA)-coated totivirus-imprinted polymer was introduced on the surface of SiO2 nanoparticles (virus-imprinted SiO2@PDA NPs) using an efficient one-step synthesis method. The target virus was selectively captured by the imprinted polymer films, thereby increasing the RLS intensity. A simple fluorescence spectrophotometer was employed to measure the changes in the intensity. The enhanced RLS intensity (∆IRLS) was proportional to the concentration of HAV in the range of 0.04-6.0 nmol∙L−1, with a low limit of detection of 8.6 pmol∙L−1. The selectivity study confirmed that the resultant HAV-imprinted SiO2@PDA NPs possessed high selectivity for HAV. The sensor was successfully applied for the direct detection of additional HAV from a 20,000-fold dilution of human serum. The proposed strategy is simple, eco-friendly, highly selective, and sensitive.