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Review
. 2020:3:237-249.
doi: 10.1016/j.mset.2019.10.002. Epub 2019 Oct 23.

Colorimetric biosensors for point-of-care virus detections

Victoria Xin Ting Zhao  1 , Ten It Wong  2 , Xin Ting Zheng  2 , Yen Nee Tan  2   3 , Xiaodong Zhou  2
Affiliations
Review

Colorimetric biosensors for point-of-care virus detections

Victoria Xin Ting Zhao et al. Mater Sci Energy Technol. 2020.

Abstract

Colorimetric biosensors can be used to detect a particular analyte through color changes easily by naked eyes or simple portable optical detectors for quantitative measurement. Thus, it is highly attractive for point-of-care detections of harmful viruses to prevent potential pandemic outbreak, as antiviral medication must be administered in a timely fashion. This review paper summaries existing and emerging techniques that can be employed to detect viruses through colorimetric assay design with detailed discussion of their sensing principles, performances as well as pros and cons, with an aim to provide guideline on the selection of suitable colorimetric biosensors for detecting different species of viruses. Among the colorimetric methods for virus detections, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method is more favourable for its faster detection, high efficiency, cheaper cost, and more reliable with high reproducible assay results. Nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensors, on the other hand, are most suitable to be fabricated into lateral flow or lab-on-a-chip devices, and can be coupled with LAMP or portable PCR systems for highly sensitive on-site detection of viruses, which is very critical for early diagnosis of virus infections and to prevent outbreak in a swift and controlled manner.

Keywords: Bioassay; Colorimetric detection; Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP); Nanoparticle-based biosensors; Virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of existing technologies for colorimetric virus detection.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of LAMP and PCR processes. Further, for real-time quantitative PCR, DNA probes with one-end of quencher and one-end of fluorescent dye are added. For RNA detection in PCR, complementary DNA of the RNA shall be synthesized. For one-step RNA-PCR reaction, enzyme will be further added in PCR reaction tube.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Principle of gold nanoparticles to change color for detection of dsDNA with the existence of salt.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Principle of Ru suppressed fluorescent emission and the dual fluorescent restoration caused color change.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Paramagnetic particle with enzyme-substrate colorimetric for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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