Two-Dimensional (2D) materials in the detection of SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Microchemical journal 2023-10, Vol.193, p.108970, Article 108970
• Main Authors: Uzunoglu, Aytekin, Gunes Altuntas, Evrim, Huseyin Ipekci, Hasan, Ozoglu, Ozum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2D materials; Biosensor; Graphene; MXenes; SARS-CoV-2; TMDs
• ISSN: 0026-265X; 1095-9149
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2023.108970

[Display omitted] •SARS-CoV-2 detection strategies using biosensors.•Advances in 2D material-based SARS-CoV-2 detection.•Physicochemical properties of 2D materials beyond graphene in biorecognition.•Perspectives in viral disease diagnostics. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in a devastating effect on human health in the last three years. While tremendous effort has been devoted to the development of effective treatment and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and controlling the spread of it, collective health challenges have been encountered along with the concurrent serious economic impacts. Since the beginning of the pandemic, various detection methods like PCR-based methods, isothermal nucleic acid amplification-based (INAA) methods, serological methods or antibody tests, and evaluation of X-ray chest results have been exploited to diagnose SARS-CoV-2. PCR-based detection methods in these are considered gold standards in the current stage despite their drawbacks, including being high-cost and time-consuming procedures. Furthermore, the results obtained from the PCR tests are susceptible to sample collection methods and time. When the sample is not collected properly, obtaining a false result may be likely. The use of specialized lab equipment and the need for trained people for the experiments pose additional challenges in PCR-based testing methods. Also, similar problems are observed in other molecular and serological methods. Therefore, biosensor technologies are becoming advantageous with their quick response, high specificity and precision, and low-cost characteristics for SARS-CoV-2 detection. In this paper, we critically review the advances in the development of sensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 using two-dimensional (2D) materials. Since 2D materials including graphene and graphene-related materials, transition metal carbides, carbonitrides, and nitrides (MXenes), and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) play key roles in the development of novel and high-performance electrochemical (bio)sensors, this review pushes the sensor technologies against SARS-CoV-2 detection forward and highlights the current trends. First, the basics of SARS-CoV-2 detection are described. Then the structure and the physicochemical properties of the 2D materials are explained, which is followed by the development of SARS-CoV-2 sensors by exploiting the exceptional properties of the 2D materials. This critical review covers most of the published papers in detail from