Synthesis and Characterization of ACE2-Based Peptides as Inhibitors & Peptide Epitopes for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Due to the pandemic, research concerning SARS-CoV-2 became of the utmost importance. In this research, we aimed to find and synthesize a library of peptide epitopes that carry functional properties of the ACE-2 receptor binding to the virus protein for the purpose of creating a therapeutic treatment (i.e. viral inhibition). In order to do this, we used MST to determine binding affinity. After that, we validated the binding properties of our peptide epitopes and applied them as SARSCoV-2 antibody indicators using ELISA. We, then, functionalized gold nanoparticles with the peptide epitopes to assess its utility as a potential SARS-CoV-2 competitive inhibitor. From the set of peptides in the library, P25 showed the most functional properties in both MST and serological ELISA, while P1 successfully conjugated to the gold nanoparticles in different forms (PEG-P1, linker-P1, and mutated P1). Finally, P1 was validated to have antibody binding through sandwich ELISA. In the future, these findings can be applied to inhibit viral activity through drug delivery.