The use of Nanotrap particles for biodefense and emerging infectious disease diagnostics.
Detection of early infectious disease may be challenging due to the low copy number of organisms present. To overcome this limitation and rapidly measure low concentrations of the pathogen, we developed a novel technology: Nanotrap particles, which are designed to capture, concentrate, and protect biomarkers from complex biofluids. Nanotrap particles are thermoresponsive hydrogels that are capable of antigen capture through the coupling of affinity baits to the particles. Here, we describe recent findings demonstrating that Nanotrap particles are able to capture live infectious virus, viral RNA, and viral proteins. Capture is possible even in complex mixtures such as serum and allows the concentration and protection of these analytes, providing increased performance of downstream assays. The Nanotrap particles are a versatile sample preparation technology that has far reaching implications for biomarker discovery and diagnostic assays.
National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA.
Nazly
N
Shafagati
Alexis
A
Patanarut
Alessandra
A
Luchini
Lindsay
L
Lundberg
Charles
C
Bailey
Emanuel
E
Petricoin
Lance
L
Liotta
Aarthi
A
Narayanan
Benjamin
B
Lepene
Kylene
K
Kehn-Hall
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000821:virology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral
Rift Valley fever virus; Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus; diagnostics; influenza