Multiplexed rapid antigen tests developed using multicolored nanoparticles and cross-reactive antibody pairs: Implications for pandemic preparedness

Abstract

Global public health infrastructure is unprepared for emerging pathogen epidemics, in part because diagnostic tests are not developed in advance. The recent Zika, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2 virus epidemics are cases in point. We demonstrate here that multicolored gold nanoparticles, when coupled to cross-reactive monoclonal antibody pairs generated from a single immunization regimen, can be used to create multiple diagnostics that specifically detect and distinguish related viruses. The multiplex approach for specific detection centers on immunochromatography with pairs of antibody-conjugated red and blue gold nanoparticles, coupled with clustering algorithms to detect and distinguish related pathogens. Cross-reactive antibodies were used to develop rapid tests for i) Dengue virus serotypes 1-4, ii) Zika virus, iii) Ebola and Marburg viruses, and iv) SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Multiplexed rapid antigen tests based on multicolored nanoparticles and cross-reactive antibodies and can be developed prospectively at low cost to improve preparedness for epidemic outbreaks.