Mimicking Biochemical Traits with a Synthetic Lipid Nanoparticles SARS-COV-2 Model

The continuous evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the global pandemic challenges diagnostic technologies, underscoring the urgent need for quick adaptation and innovation to improve accuracy and efficiency against new variants. The study introduces a synthetic Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) model of SARS-CoV-2, utilizing advancements in LNPs vaccine technology to mimic the virus's key biochemical and genetic traits. This liposomal model encapsulates the characteristic SARS-CoV-2 mRNA and nucleocapsid (N) proteins within LNPs and further conjugates with spike (S) protein derivatives on its outer membrane, closely replicating the virus's structure and inducing accurate antigen-antibody responses in diagnostic tests. Furthermore, validation using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) with commercial SARS-CoV-2 reagents confirms its effectiveness in simulating viral RNA amplification. This establishes it as an efficient tool for assessing the diagnostic efficacy of newly marketed diagnostic products. This LNPs model represents a significant advancement in diagnostic development, offering potential for therapeutic and vaccine research while ensuring safety and scalability.