Multiplexed Surface Plasmon Resonance based real time viral aerosol detection

•A new real time bioaerosol monitoring technique has been developed.•The hardware is portable enabling technique obtaining results directly at a monitoring site.•The technique is capable of detecting multiple airborne microbial targets in single run.

In the area of environmental bioaerosol monitoring the technologies allowing rapid and precise detection of multiple targets are highly demanded. In our previous feasibility studies we evaluated an applicability of a Surface Plasmon Resonance protocol in conjunction with our personal bioaerosol sampler for rapid detection of airborne viruses and bacteria. It was found that the immunosensor based technique was capable of detecting airborne microbes in a broad range of concentrations within minutes with high accuracy and specificity, even in highly contaminated environments. This project reports the results of the development of a comprehensive technique for simultaneous detection of multiple viral airborne targets in real time. The multiplicity was challenged on detection of two viral objects: MS2 bacteriophage and Influenza A virus. No statistically significant difference in sensitivity between singleplex and multiplex SPR was achieved for both target viruses in aerosol form. The proposed multiplexed technology, based on the direct simultaneous detection of a number of viral aerosols, can be applied to various viral pathogens, and be further realised in a concept of portable “first alert” bioaerosol monitor.