Engineering carbon nanotubes for sensitive viral detection

Viral infections have been proven a severe threat to human beings, and the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a societal health concern, including mental distress and morbidity. Therefore, the early diagnosis and differentiation of viral infections are the prerequisite for curbing the local and global spread of viruses. To this end, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based virus detection strategies are developed that provide feasible alternatives to conventional diagnostic techniques. Here in this review, an overview of the design and engineering of CNTs-based sensors for virus detection is summarized, followed by the nano-bio interactions used in developing biosensors. Then, we classify the viral sensors into covalently engineered CNTs, non-covalently engineered CNTs, and size-tunable CNTs arrays for viral detection, based on the type of CNTs-based nano-bio interfaces. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of CNTs-based sensors for virus detection are discussed. ?? 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This review provides an overview of the design and engineering of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based sensors for virus detection, highlighting the nano-bio interactions and potential applications in viral diagnostics. The classification of viral sensors based on the type of CNTs-based nano-bio interfaces is presented, along with the discussion of current challenges and prospects for CNTs-based sensors.