Graphene-Based Technologies for Tackling COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for rapid tools and technologies to combat highly infectious viruses. The excellent electrical, mechanical and other functional properties of graphene and graphene-like 2D materials (2DM) can be utilized to develop novel and innovative devices to tackle COVID-19 and future pandemics. Here, the authors outline how graphene and other 2DM-based technologies can be used for the detection, protection, and continuous monitoring of infectious diseases including COVID-19. The authors highlight the potential of 2DM-based biosensors in rapid testing and tracing of viruses to enable isolation of infected patients, and stop the spread of viruses. The possibilities of graphene-based wearable devices are discussed for continuous monitoring of COVID-19 symptoms. The authors also provide an overview of the personal protective equipment, and potential filtration mechanisms to separate, destroy or degrade highly infectious viruses, and the potential of graphene and other 2DM to increase their efficiency, and enhance functional and mechanical properties. Graphene and other 2DM could not only play a vital role for tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but also provide technology platforms and tools for the protection, detection and monitoring of future viral diseases.

Keywords: 2D materials; COVID‐19; biosensors; filtration; graphene; personal protective equipment; wearables.

Figure 1

COVID‐19 and potential graphene‐based technologies for tackling COVID‐19 virus. a) The structure of a COVID‐19 virus and transmission (via water, air, food, blood, and touch) to infect lungs of a human body. b) A COVID‐19 patient's infection trajectory (blue lines) in context of two surveillance regimens (circles), where the lateral flow test is more likely to detect infection during the transmission window (shading) than PCR, despite its lower analytic sensitivity. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 6 ]} Copyright 2020, Massachusetts Medical Society. c) Potential graphene‐based PPEs for the protection against viruses. d) Prospective graphene‐based biosensors to enable rapid detection of COVID‐19 and e) Future graphene‐based wearable technologies for continuous monitoring of physiological conditions.

Figure 2

Graphene‐based biosensors and wearable e‐textiles for tackling COVID‐19. a) Graphene‐based FET sensor for detecting SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein from COVID‐19 patients. b,c) Comparison of response signal between control and patient samples. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 32 ]} American Chemical Society. d) Fully inkjet‐printed graphene‐based wearable e‐textiles for monitoring heart rate. e) Flexible and wearable graphene‐based textiles sensors for monitoring human activity. f) Concept future wearable e‐textiles garment for remote monitoring of signs for early detection of asymptomatic and pre‐symptomatic cases of COVID‐19 and other viruses.

Figure 3

Graphene‐based technologies for sustainable PPE and water purification. a) Hot‐melt extrusion process for melt‐mixing of graphene and other 2DM to fiber polymers. b) Melt‐blown nonwoven fabric manufacturing technique for personal protective clothing. c) The application of antimicrobial finish on textiles via pad–dry–cure technique. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 88 ]} Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society. d) The potential sources and pathways of COVID‐19 in water systems. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 89 ]} Copyright 2020, Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. e) Nano‐porous graphene and GO membrane for water purification. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 90 ]} Copyright 2015, Royal Society of Chemistry.