Metal Organic Frameworks as Biosensing Materials for COVID-19

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak is the most startling public health crises with attendant global socio-economic burden ever experienced in the twenty-first century. The level of devastation by this outbreak is such that highly impacted countries will take years to recover. Studies have shown that timely detection based on accelerated sample testing and accurate diagnosis are crucial steps to reducing or preventing the spread of any pandemic outbreak. In this opinionated review, the impacts of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as a biosensor in a pandemic outbreak is investigated with reference to COVID-19. Biosensing technologies have been proven to be very effective in clinical analyses, especially in assessment of severe infectious diseases. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR, RT-PCR, CRISPR) - based test methods predominantly used for SARS-COV-2 diagnoses have serious limitations and the health scientists and researchers are urged to come up with a more robust and versatile system for solving diagnostic problem associated with the current and future pandemic outbreaks. MOFs, an emerging crystalline material with unique characteristics will serve as promising biosensing materials in a pandemic outbreak such as the one we are in. We hereby highlight the characteristics of MOFs and their sensing applications, potentials as biosensors in a pandemic outbreak and draw the attention of researchers to a new vista of research that needs immediate action.

Nanomaterials and metal-organic frameworks for biosensing applications of mutations of the emerging viruses

“…Today, nanomaterials (NMs) and nanomaterials-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have a critical role in SARS-CoV-2 and other related virus diagnosis and viral control applications [ [94] , [95] , [96] , [97] ]. These applications differentiate between biosensing, bio-composites, bio-barriers, etc.…”

Applications of metal–organic framework-based bioelectrodes

“…Interestingly, MOFs have also been used in the development of biosensors for SARS-COV-2 detection. 31 MOF surface could provide an efficient adsorption platform for fluorophore-labeled probes through electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and π–π stacking. Moreover, there is possibility of increased recovery of fluorescence due to the weak affinity of hybridized DNA towards MOFs.…”

Modification of face masks with zeolite imidazolate framework-8: A tool for hindering the spread of COVID-19 infection

“…In recent years, a number of different nanomaterials, such as Ag [16] , [19] , Cu [20] , [21] , Zn [22] , Ti [23] and Au [24] nanoparticles, have been developed to enhance the anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties of materials, which opens new perspectives in the prevention of COVID-19 transmission [25] . Within this context of nanomaterial development, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted huge scientific interest as a fast-developing field of research with an increasing number of applications being proposed [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] . MOFs are organic–inorganic hybrid crystalline porous materials with unique properties including: (i) exceptional surface area extending beyond 6000 m 2 g −1 , (ii) ultrahigh porosity of up to 90% of free volume, (iii) structural diversity in contrast to other porous materials, and (iv) controllable framework topology, porosity, and functionality [43] .…”