Article of the Week: October 27

Diagnostic methods and potential protable biosensors for coronavirus disease 2019

Author

Marina Pulini-Franks MD
October 27, 2023

Diagnostic methods and potential portable biosensors for coronavirus disease 2019

Timely detection and diagnosis are urgently needed to guide epidemiological measures, infection control, antiviral treatment, and vaccine research. In…

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956566320303432?casa_token=YctuChBMArkAAAAA:zcvKwO36AxJVk0JW6sJWXlv0WigiPHMfDH-OHexhvx33DsH1gkyRFpYIfAB6mRKEbyLnPPFb0Q

Main Point

The article emphasizes the urgent need to develop reliable, rapid, low-cost, and widely available diagnostic tools for COVID-19. Portable biosensors have emerged as promising alternatives, offering fast, accurate, and sensitive early detection of the virus. Various biosensor types, including electrical/EC biosensors, SERS, and plasmonic biosensors, are highlighted for their advantages in low cost, simplicity, and high sensitivity. Home-used biosensors, especially colorimetric strips and smartphone-based ones, are essential for detecting asymptomatic carriers and enabling widespread testing.

5 Salient Points

  • Biomarkers or Indicators for COVID-19: The article discusses the importance of RNA, whole virus, and antibody as diagnostic biomarkers for COVID-19. It highlights the use of RT-qPCR assays targeting specific genes to distinguish SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. Additionally, the detection of antibodies can aid in diagnosing the disease and assessing the severity.

  • Clinical and Environmental Specimens: Specimen choice is crucial for diagnostic efficiency and accuracy. Different respiratory tract specimens are compared, and sputum induction is suggested as a non-invasive alternative. The article also highlights the importance of considering environmental contamination as a route of transmission, requiring the development of biosensors for on-site environmental detection.

  • Diagnosis Methods: The article provides an overview of current diagnostic methods, including chest CT scans, RT-qPCR, LFICS, and antibody detection. It discusses the strengths and limitations of each method and emphasizes the need for improved sensitivity and reliability.

  • Potential Portable Biosensors: The article explores the potential of portable biosensors as alternative diagnostic tools for COVID-19. Electrical/EC biosensors, SERS, and plasmonic biosensors are discussed for their advantages in sensitivity, simplicity, and miniaturization. The importance of machine learning-based signal processing and direct result readouts is highlighted to enhance reliability and reproducibility.

  • Conclusions and Outlooks: The article concludes by reiterating the urgent need for better diagnostic tools and emphasizes the potential of portable biosensors for on-site, fast, and ultrasensitive detection. The future outlook includes the development of multiplex biosensors and home-used devices for widespread testing and detection of asymptomatic carriers.

🎯Research Appendix