Leonardi Antonio Alessio, Sciuto Emanuele Luigi, Lo Faro Maria Josè, Morganti Dario, Midiri Angelina, Spinella Corrado, Conoci Sabrina, Irrera Alessia, Fazio Barbara
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Ettore Majorana", Università degli Studi di Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy.
CNR-IMM Catania University, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Nanomaterials (Basel). 2022 Jun 21;12(13):2134. doi: 10.3390/nano12132134.
The continuing accumulation of mutations in the RNA genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus generates an endless succession of highly contagious variants that cause concern around the world due to their antibody resistance and the failure of current diagnostic techniques to detect them in a timely manner. Raman spectroscopy represents a promising alternative to variants detection and recognition techniques, thanks to its ability to provide a characteristic spectral fingerprint of the biological samples examined under all circumstances. In this work we exploit the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties of a silver dendrite layer to explore, for the first time to our knowledge, the distinctive features of the Omicron variant genome. We obtain a complex spectral signal of the Omicron variant genome where the fingerprints of nucleobases in nucleosides are clearly unveiled and assigned in detail. Furthermore, the fractal SERS layer offers the presence of confined spatial regions in which the analyte remains trapped under hydration conditions. This opens up the prospects for a prompt spectral identification of the genome in its physiological habitat and for a study on its activity and variability.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）病毒RNA基因组中突变的持续积累产生了一系列具有高度传染性的变体，这些变体因其抗体抗性以及当前诊断技术无法及时检测到它们而引起全球关注。拉曼光谱法是一种很有前景的变体检测和识别技术，因为它能够在任何情况下为所检测的生物样品提供特征光谱指纹。在这项工作中，我们利用银树枝状层的表面增强拉曼散射（SERS）特性，据我们所知首次探索了奥密克戎变体基因组的独特特征。我们获得了奥密克戎变体基因组的复杂光谱信号，其中核苷中核碱基的指纹清晰可见并得到了详细归属。此外，分形SERS层提供了受限的空间区域，在水合条件下分析物会被困在其中。这为在其生理栖息地中快速光谱鉴定基因组以及研究其活性和变异性开辟了前景。
