Nano- and biosensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Nanotechnology and biotechnology are currently being focused on pathogenic viruses, and researchers are ready to use these approaches to detect viral infections. Indeed, during pandemics, innovative nano-based structures and nanobiotechnology can be employed for the rapid, sensitive, and reliable detection of pathogenic viruses to control and prevent/reduce their spread, which is important in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, the currently employed detection technique for COVID-19 is quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) technology, but it is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and cannot be promptly used in remote or resource-limited settings. This may lead to obstacles in obtaining actual data on the infectivity and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Accordingly, nano- and biosensors should have sufficient sensitivity, selectivity, user-friendliness, scalability, authenticity, portability, specificity, and rapid/robust properties, with the potential for highly qualified and reliable screening, and great sensitivity, with minimal false positive/negative responses. This paper summarizes important alternative nano- and biosensor-based diagnostics approaches in comparison with the conventional methods used for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Additionally, current important challenges and future perspectives related to the development of these innovative sensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 are discussed.