(30l) Glycopolymer-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes Detection of Viral Proteins

There is a critical need for establishing versatile and effective viral detection platforms since the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 and the initial limitations in testing capabilities. Carbohydrate-mediated interactions play a key role in many cellular events, including viral and bacterial infection, that is facilitated by selective interactions of carbohydrates with carbohydrate-binding proteins (CBPs). Glyconanomaterials with specific carbohydrate functionalities are known to mimic the multivalent carbohydrate-protein interactions occurring in biology. Our previous work has investigated the specific interactions of glycopolymer-wrapped single-wall carbon nanotubes (Glyco-SWCNTs) with CBPs using lectins. Specifically, Glyco-SWCNTs were created via noncovalent complexation with lactose-containing glycopolymers. Here, we build upon our previous findings to optically detect the specific binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to carbohydrates by utilizing the intrinsic near-infrared fluorescence of Glyco-SWCNTs. Ultimately, this work will lead to the development of microbial nanosensors and further enable the mechanistic understanding of carbohydrate-protein interactions occurring in pathogen infection.