SiNWs-DNA nanoprobes functionalized microchannel for rapid and ultrasensitive virus sensing

Accurate detection of low viral load infections is crucial for early diagnosis and effective prevention of virus transmission. However, most conventional virus detection methods are time-consuming and require complex nucleic acid amplification steps. Here, we present a glass microchannel sensor functionalized with silica nanowires-DNA (SiNWs-DNA) nanoprobes for simple, rapid, and ultrasensitive detection of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The detection is achieved via direct electrochemical signal acquisition after only a 9-min incubation. Without requiring nucleic acid amplification, the sensor achives a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.61 × 10⁻² copies/μL, demonstrating enhanced sensitivity compared to conventional techniques such as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the platform exhibits excellent sensitivity and specificity in real sample analysis, underscoring its great potential in clinical virus diagnostics.