Carbon nanotube substrates enhance SARS-CoV-2 spike protein ion yields in matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that coating substrates with carbon nanotubes significantly boosts the ion yields of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in MALDI-MS, enabling more sensitive detection of the virus.

Contribution

It introduces the use of carbon nanotube-coated substrates to enhance MALDI-MS detection of viral proteins, improving sensitivity for pathogen analysis.

Findings

50-fold increase in spike protein ion yields on nanotube-coated substrates

Nanostructured surfaces improve detection sensitivity in MALDI-MS

Potential for enhanced pathogen detection and environmental monitoring

Abstract

Nanostructured surfaces enhance ion yields in matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The spike protein complex, S1, is one fingerprint signature of Sars-CoV-2 with a mass of 75 kDa. Here, we show that MALDI-MS yields of Sars-CoV-2 spike protein ions in the 100 kDa range are enhanced 50-fold when the matrix-analyte solution is placed on substrates that are coated with a dense forest of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, compared to yields from uncoated substrates. Nanostructured substrates can support the development of mass spectrometry techniques for sensitive pathogen detection and environmental monitoring.