Biosensors as nano-analytical tools for COVID-19 detection

Abstract

Selective, sensitive and affordable techniques to detect disease and underlying health is- sues have been developed recently. Biosensors as nanoanalytical tools have taken a front seat in this context. Nanotechnology-enabled progress in the health sector has aided in disease and pandemic management at a very early stage efficiently. This report reflects the state-of-the-art of nanobiosen- sor-based virus detection technology in terms of their detection methods, targets, limits of detection, range, sensitivity, assay time, etc. The article effectively summarizes the challenges with traditional technologies and newly emerging biosensors, including the nanotechnology-based detection kit for COVID-19; optically enhanced technology; and electrochemical, smart and wearable enabled nano- biosensors. The less explored but crucial piezoelectric nanobiosensor and the reverse transcription- loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)-based biosensor are also discussed here. The article could be of significance to researchers and doctors dedicated to developing potent, versatile biosensors for the rapid identification of COVID-19. This kind of report is needed for selecting suit- able treatments and to avert epidemics. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.