Applications of gold nanoparticles in virus detection

Draz, Mohamed Shehata; Shafiee, Hadi

Generally, molecular methods are relatively rapid and more sensitive than immunoassays and can be applied either in a simple form for the manual detection of viruses or as an embedded component of more advanced systems. Numerous fully automated and high-throughput detection systems are now available and widely used in clinical settings. In fact, the development of advanced molecular detection systems has revolutionized the way in which diagnostic tests are delivered and greatly enhanced the control of many viral infections, whether in hospitals or communities. In addition, these systems have eliminated the biosafety and time concerns usually associated with the clinical and academic study of viruses. However, despite these wide and promising applications, most molecular techniques still have several potential limitations in repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity that are mainly caused by the high genetic variability of some viruses. Furthermore, these assays are expensive and time consuming and typically call for specialized laboratory instruments and skilled personnel [34, 35] .