Detecting and inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 under the auspices of electrochemistry

Abstract

The recent epidemic of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has turned out to be a huge public health concern owing to its fast transmission. Rapid and cost-effective detection of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to classify diseased individuals. Serological examination based on antibody chromatography as a substitute to RT-PCR provides inadequate help owing to sophisticated personnel, false-positive results, special equipment and high cost. Biosensing techniques provide sensitive and specific detection, recognition and quantification of pathogens. Herein, after an introduction, we review potential electrochemical (EC) biosensors for COVID-19 diagnosis, emphasizing plasmonic, optical, colorimetric and aptamer-based sensors with a special focus on EC biosensors and point-of-care (POC) diagnostic methods. We have conferred the working principle of these biosensors, EC performance in terms of particular analytical figures of merit and their real-time applications in biological matrices. Lastly, we have described briefly the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by EC oxidation. In the end, we have concluded this review by clearing up the strengths and weaknesses of EC sensors and future directions. Advancement in research and technology would be our unsurpassed weapons in the fight against COVID-19 and preventing imminent pandemics.

Keywords: Detection; Electrochemical sensor; Electrochemistry; Nanomaterials; SARS-CoV-2.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

(A) Structural illustration of SARS-CoV-2 Virion and specific proteins, (B) A 16-well plate EC sensor based on EIS analysis of SARS-CoV-2, (C) schematic of a low-cost, paper-based EC sensor for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies employing SWV technique. Reprinted with permission (Rashed et al., 2021; Yakoh et al., 2020).

Fig. 2

(A) Functionalized ASO sequence and schematic illustration of ASO capped Au NPS agglomeration, Reprinted with permission (Moitra et al., 2020) (B) summary of SARS-CoV-2 determination from sample loading to detection step, Reprinted with permission (Dzimianski et al., 2020) (C) Schematic of working principle for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection from nasopharynx samples. Reprinted with permission (Raziq et al., 2021).

Fig. 3

(A) Graphic illustration of the EC inactivation method for SARS-CoV-2, (B) The mechanism SARS-CoV-2 inactivation with oxidation sequence regions and EC oxidative cleavage positions in the RBD. Reprinted with permission (Tu et al., 2020).