Challenges of SERS technology as a non-nucleic acid or -antigen detection method for SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant burden since December 2019 that has negatively impacted the global economy owing to the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is fast-transmitting and highly contagious. Efforts have been taken to minimize the impact through strict screening measures in countr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol. 181; p. 113153
Main Authors: Sitjar, Jaya, Liao, Jiunn-Der, Lee, Han, Tsai, Huey-Pin, Wang, Jen-Ren, Liu, Ping-Yen
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.06.2021
Subjects:
Biosensing Techniques
biosensors
chemical species
compliance
COVID-19 - diagnosis
COVID-19 infection
COVID-19 pandemic
Detection effectivity
diagnostic techniques
Fast-screening
Humans
Nucleic Acids
Pandemics
Raman spectroscopy
SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification
SARS-CoV-2 virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Spectrum Analysis, Raman
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Viral envelope
viruses
Viral envelope
COVID-19 pandemic
Fast-screening
SARS-CoV-2 virus
Detection effectivity
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
ISSN:0956-5663, 1873-4235, 1873-4235
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant burden since December 2019 that has negatively impacted the global economy owing to the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is fast-transmitting and highly contagious. Efforts have been taken to minimize the impact through strict screening measures in country borders in order to isolate potential virus carriers. Effective fast-screening methods are thus needed to identify infected individuals. The standard diagnostic methods for screening SARS-CoV-2 virus have always been to perform nucleic acid-based and serological tests. However, with each having drawbacks on producing false results at very early or later stage after symptoms onset, supplementary techniques are needed to back up these tests. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a detection technique has continuously advanced throughout the years in terms of sensitivity and capability to detect ultralow concentration of analytes ranging from single molecule to pathogens, to present as a highly potential alternative to known sensing methods. SERS technology as a candidate for an alternative and supplementary diagnostic method for the viral envelope of SARS-CoV-2 virus is presented, comparing its pros and cons to the standard methods and what other aspects it could offer that the other methods are not capable of. Factors that contribute to the detection effectivity of SERS is also discussed to show the advantages and limitations of this technique. Despite its promising capabilities, challenges like sources of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variations, reliable SERS spectra, mass production of SERS-active substrates, and compliance to regulations for wide-scale testing scenario are highlighted. •Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has advanced in sensitivity that detection of analytes at ultralow concentration is highly feasible.•SERS technology provides a great potential for fast-screening detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants through their outer envelopes.•The influential factors using SERS technology for the distinction of live, inactivated, and dead SARS-CoV-2 virus has been discussed.•The challenges of applying SERS technology on a large scale for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus have been addressed.•SERS technology is promising to be developed as a diagnostic tool for fast-screening detection of infectious virus outbreaks.
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ISSN:0956-5663
1873-4235
1873-4235
DOI:10.1016/j.bios.2021.113153