Fast, accurate, point-of-care COVID-19 pandemic diagnosis enabled through advanced lab-on-chip optical biosensors: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract

The sudden rise of the worldwide severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in early 2020 has called into drastic action measures to perform instant detection and reduce the rate of spread. Common clinical and nonclinical diagnostic testing methods have been partially effective in satisfying the increasing demand for fast detection point-of-care (POC) methods to slow down further spread. However, accurate point-of-risk diagnosis of this emerging viral infection is paramount as the need for simultaneous standard operating procedures and symptom management of SARS-CoV-2 will be the norm for years to come. A sensitive, cost-effective biosensor with mass production capability is crucial until a universal vaccination becomes available. Optical biosensors can provide a noninvasive, extremely sensitive rapid detection platform with sensitivity down to ∼67 fg/ml (1 fM) concentration in a few minutes. These biosensors can be manufactured on a mass scale (millions) to detect the COVID-19 viral load in nasal, saliva, urine, and serological samples, even if the infected person is asymptotic. Methods investigated here are the most advanced available platforms for biosensing optical devices that have resulted from the integration of state-of-the-art designs and materials. These approaches include, but are not limited to, integrated optical devices, plasmonic resonance, and emerging nanomaterial biosensors. The lab-on-chip platforms examined here are suitable not only for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detection but also for other contagious virions such as influenza and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein across the Blood–Brain Barrier, as Revealed by a Combination of a Human Cell Culture Model System and Optical Biosensing

“…In order to identify the S1 spike protein being in the focus of the present study, alternative methods are required, based for example on specific antigen–antibody interactions [ 15 ]. These techniques are also advantageous to substitute tests requiring laboratory-intensive environment to monitor the spreading of the virus in real-time, even in regions of less-developed healthcare [ 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Recent advances of functional nucleic acid-based sensors for point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV-2

“…Belonging to the beta genus coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome with an envelope structure, which is generally round or oval in shape, with a size of 60 ~ 140 nm [ 3 ]. The genome is ~ 30 kb in length, encoding four conserved structural proteins, named as the spike protein (S), the envelope protein (E), the nucleocapsid protein (N), and the membrane protein (M) (Fig.…”

“…The genome is ~ 30 kb in length, encoding four conserved structural proteins, named as the spike protein (S), the envelope protein (E), the nucleocapsid protein (N), and the membrane protein (M) (Fig. 1A ) [ 3 ]. These structural proteins are not only individually responsible for essential physiological roles, but also serve as components of the viral replication machinery or interact with many host cytokines.…”

“…Recently, an astonishing explosion of researches on COVID-19 has emerged with several review articles from different perspectives. Asghari et al [ 3 ] focused on the state-of-the-art biosensing optical platform for POC COVID-19 diagnosis. Gowri et al [ 16 ] summarized research advances in POC-based optical and electrochemical biosensors, and provided an outlook on the application of wearable devices and smart nano-biosensors for real-time monitoring of COVID-19.…”

Highly Sensitive Immunoresistive Sensor for Point-Of-Care Screening for COVID-19

“…Other detection methods are more promising in accuracy and screening time. Some of them are antibody-coated field-effect transistors [19,20], paper-based electrochemical sensors [21], nanoparticles (NP) based electrochemical sensors [22], optical sensors [23], surface plasmon resonance (SPR) [24], and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) [25].…”