The Role of Biosensors in Detection of SARS-CoV-2: State-of-the-Art and Future Prospects

The world is fighting a pandemic so grave that perhaps it has never been witnessed before; COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of August 31st, 2022, the WHO declared the total number of confirmed cases was 599,825,400, with 6,469,458 confirmed deaths from 223 countries under the scourge of this deadly virus. The SARS-CoV-2 is a beta-coronavirus, which is an enveloped non-segmented positive-sense RNA virus. It is a close relative of the SARS and MERS viruses and has probably entered humans through bats. Human-to-human transmission is very rapid. People in contact with the patient or even the carriers became infected, leading to a widespread chain of contamination. We are presenting a mini-review on the role of biosensors in detecting SARS-CoV-2. Biosensors have been used for a very long time for viral detection and can be utilized for the prompt detection of the novel coronavirus. This article aims to provide a mini-review on the application of biosensors for the detection of the novel coronavirus with a focus on cost-effective paper-based sensors, nanobiosensors, Field effect transistors (FETs), and lab-on-chip integrated platforms.Background: Biosensors have played a crucial role in viral detection for a long time.Objectives: To present a comprehensive review of the biosensor application in SARS-Cov-2.Methods: We have presented state-of-the-art work in the biosensors field for SARS-Cov-2 detection.Results: The biosensors presented here provide an innovative approach to detecting SARS-Cov-2 infections early.Conclusion: Biosensors have tremendous potential in accurately detecting viral infections in pandemics requiring rapid screening.