Rapid and Label-Free Detection of Influenza A Virus With a SAW Biosensor Based on DNA Probes

The Influenza A virus (H1N1) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads rapidly among individuals. Current clinical methods often require large and expensive equipment, involve complex and time-consuming sample processing, and cannot achieve rapid detection of the virus. This hinders timely isolation of infected individuals and containment of the virus spread within confined areas. In this study, we have developed a low-cost, label-free, highly sensitive surface acoustic wave (SAW) biosensor capable of rapid, on-site detection of the target DNA sequence associated with H1N1. The SAW biosensor was fabricated on a 128° YX -LiNbO3 substrate. Then DNA probes with phosphate groups were immobilized on the SAW sensing area through chemical functionalization with APTES. The resonant frequency shift of the SAW biosensor was monitored to detect specific binding of the target DNA sequence to the immobilized DNA probes. The SAW biosensor exhibits a significant response to the H1N1 virus target DNA sequence, demonstrating a linear range spanning from 50 pM to 10 nM, with a detection limit of 14.4 pM. Furthermore, the results demonstrate excellent selectivity and stability for the SAW biosensor in natural environments. Therefore, the developed SAW biosensor presents a promising method for detecting the H1N1 virus with a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach, and it has significant potential for on-site testing.