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Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-Based Biosensing Platform for Detection of Covid-19 RNA
Elgazar, Aya Tarek
Elgazar, Aya Tarek
Description
A Master of Science thesis in Chemical Engineering by Aya Tarek Elgazar entitled, “Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-Based Biosensing Platform for Detection of Covid-19 RNA”, submitted in May 2024. Thesis advisors are Dr. Rana Sabouni and Dr. Mehdi Ghommem. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).
Abstract
The recent outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has led to a global pandemic with significant effects on public health, the global economy, and social life. Rapid and accurate diagnosis methods are important in reducing the spread of viruses and preventing future outbreaks. Recently, Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have gained great interest as biosensors for virus detection. This thesis aims to develop a Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) based fluorescent biosensor for detecting the COVID-19 RNA sequence. Commercial and microwave-synthesized ZIF-8s were tested as potential detector materials. Commercial and MW ZIF-8s were characterized using several tests such as TGA, XRD, FT-IR, and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms to examine the MOF’s crystalline structure and thermal stability. The results illustrated that commercial ZIF-8 and MW ZIF-8 had high crystallinity and thermal stability up to a temperature of 550 oC and 400 oC, respectively. The experimental study showed that both ZIF-8s exhibited excellent quenching properties, with quenching efficiencies of 78.39% and 72.14% for commercial ZIF-8 and microwave-synthesized ZIF-8, respectively. Further analysis of the adsorption mechanism of P-DNA into the MOFs, revealed that they can form electrostatic and π- π stacking interactions, forming a P-DNA@ZIF-8 complex. The biosensing platform of ZIF-8 showed high sensitivity towards COVID-19 RNA with a very low limit of detection of 6 pM and 12 pM for commercial and MW ZIF-8, respectively. The results suggest that this ZIF-8-based biosensor has the potential for a rapid and sensitive COVID-19 diagnosis.