Two-Dimensional Material-Based Biosensors for Virus Detection

Abstract

Viral infections are one of the major causes of mortality and economic losses worldwide. Consequently, efficient virus detection methods are crucial to determine the infection prevalence. However, most detection methods face challenges related to false-negative or falsepositive results, long response times, high costs, and/or the need for specialized equipment and staff. Such issues can be overcome by access to low-cost and fast response point-of-care detection systems, and two-dimensional materials (2DMs) can play a critical role in this regard. Indeed, the unique and tunable physicochemical properties of 2DMs provide many advantages for developing biosensors for viral infections with high sensitivity and selectivity. Fast, accurate, and reliable detection, even at early infection stages by the virus, can be potentially enabled by highly accessible surface interactions between the 2DMs and the analytes. High selectivity can be obtained by functionalization of the 2DMs with antibodies, nucleic acids, proteins, peptides or aptamers, allowing for specific binding to a particular virus, viral fingerprints or proteins released by the host organism. Multiplexed detection and discrimination between different virus strains are also feasible. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the major advances of 2DMbased biosensors for the detection of viruses. We describe the main factors governing the efficient interactions between viruses and 2DMs, making them ideal candidates for the detection of viral infections. We also critically detail their advantages and drawbacks, providing insights for the development of future biosensors for virus detection. Lastly, we provide suggestions to stimulate research in the fast expanding field of 2DMs that could help in designing advanced systems for preventing virus-related pandemics.

Two-Dimensional-Material-Based Field-Effect Transistor Biosensor for Detecting COVID-19 Virus (SARS-CoV-2)

“… 11 Although graphene has high electron mobility, because of the graphene’s near-zero bandgap, the off-state current leakage in graphene-based biosensors might increase, resulting in false signals. 12 , 13 Beyond graphene, semiconducting two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have recently emerged as promising materials for biosensing 14 among other applications 15 − 20 because of their promising optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. 21 − 26 TMDCs have exhibited relatively larger tunable bandgaps ranging from a few millielectron volts (meV) to a few electron volts (eV) depending on the 2D materials, 27 , 28 resulting in a reduced off-state current and better signal-to-noise ratios.…”

Colorimetric and electrochemical detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen with a gold nanoparticle-based biosensor

“…Against that background, the demand for rapid, selective, repeatable, cost-effective, ready-to-use, ultrasensitive biosensors has continually risen. Of the numerous biosensors using colorimetric [ [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] ], scanometric [ 35 ], electrochemical [ 36 , 37 ], and fluorometric [ 38 , 39 ] systems to detect well-known human viruses [ [40] , [41] , [42] ], colorimetric assay is a simple, direct method of visual detection that does not require any complicated equipment. Metal nanoparticle-based colorimetric assays are commonly used to diagnose diseases in humans, and the development of those biosensors has also enabled the development of rapid colorimetric diagnostic tests that can be used even at home.…”

Graphene: A Disruptive Opportunity for COVID‐19 and Future Pandemics?

“…Sensing using GRMs and other 2D materials is a growing field that has provided very promising results in recent years. [ 48,49 ] The available know‐how is serving as a solid starting point for the development of new sensors. The process for the development of GRM‐based sensors is illustrated in Figure .…”