Boosting virus enrichment with macroporous magnetic sorbent based on ketoenamine covalent organic framework

Abstract

Effective surveillance and discovery of emerging and reemerging infectious viruses are crucial for predicting and controlling epidemic outbreaks. However, these efforts are significantly hindered by the low-titer existence of genetically diverse viruses in most field samples. Here, we report a macroporous-structured magnetic sorbent based on β-ketoenamine covalent organic framework (COF). Leveraging the combined advantages of the chemical and nanotopographical properties of the COF surface, along with the high accessibility of this active surface within the macroporous matrix, the COF-based adsorbent demonstrates enrichment capabilities for a wide range of viruses with varying structural features. These include Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Influenza virus H9N2 subtype, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, Herpes simplex virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Adeno virus, Bacteriophage MS2 and Enterovirus 71, achieving an enrichment efficiency exceeding 80%. Notably, the COF-based sorbent enables a remarkable 9-fold reduction in the threshold concentration required for virus detection via quantitative polymerase chain reaction, demonstrating its immense potential for early virus detection and discovery.