Intelligent and ligand-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy biosensors for the instant screening of viral respiratory infections

The global spread of viral respiratory infections continues to pose a substantial threat to human health, exacerbating the societal burden. Timely and precise detection of viruses is pivotal in mitigating pandemic transmission. Currently, the prevalent diagnostic techniques for viruses include real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and colloidal gold assays. However, intricate workflows and protracted processing times of RT-qPCR and ELISA preclude real-time diagnostics, despite their high accuracy. Colloidal gold assays offer rapid turnaround. However, their accuracy and sensitivity are limited, particularly in the context of emerging variants like SARS-CoV-2, which renders them suboptimal test tools. Mounting evidence suggests that surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), with its streamlined operation, rapid analysis, high specificity and sensitivity, holds significant potential as a superior alternative test tool. This review consolidates various SERS-based approaches for detecting respiratory infection virus (RIV) and delineates their characteristics. The unique strengths of SERS technology, including its exceptional sensitivity, robust specificity, and expedited turnaround times, earmark it as particularly well-suited for large-scale instant screening of viral infections within populations.