Applications of gold nanoparticles in virus detection

Draz, Mohamed Shehata; Shafiee, Hadi

AuNPs are a powerful addition to the range of techniques available for virus testing and control. When used as probes, AuNPs enable simple, rapid, and sensitive detection with an unprecedented multiplexing capability. Importantly, AuNP-based probes have matured from tools being added to improve traditional techniques, such as PCR, ELIZA, and many others, to the basis of completely novel techniques developed and introduced for the first time for virus detection. With AuNPs, virologists can create an unlimited number of detection assays that match the diagnostic needs of each virus in terms of simplicity, speed and cost with sensitivity levels that reach zeptomolar concentrations. AuNPs can be further developed to become components of more routine techniques, and they will likely engage the interest of scientists from all the disciplines, whether fundamental, environmental, clinical or industrial, in the future.