Sulfur-doped carbon dots@polydopamine-functionalized magnetic silver nanocubes for dual-modality detection of norovirus

Synergistic dual-mode optical platforms are up-and-coming detection tools in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases. Here, novel dual-modality fluorescence (FL) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) techniques have been integrated into a single probe for the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of norovirus (NoV). The developed FL-SER-based biosensor relies on the dual-signal enhancements of newly synthesized sulfur-doped agar-derived carbon dots (S-agCDs). The antigen-antibody immunoreaction results in forming a core-satellite immunocomplex between anti-NoV antibody-conjugated S-agCDs and polydopamine-functionalized magnetic silver nanocubes [poly (dop)-MNPs-Ag NCs]. By deploying an immunomagnetic enrichment protocol and performing the SERS modality on a single-layer graphene substrate, norovirus-like particles (NoV-LPs) were detected across a wide range of 1 fg mL⁻¹ – 10 ng mL⁻¹ with an excellent limit of detection of 0.1 fg mL⁻¹. The combined advantage of the dual-signaling properties of the biosensor was demonstrated using FL confocal imaging for “hotspots” tracking prior to SERS detection of clinical NoV in fecal specimen down to ⁓10 RNA copies mL⁻¹. The proposed dual-modality biosensor's performance increases the prospect of a rapid and low-cost sensitive NoV detection and surveillance option for public health.