Field-effect Transistor Biosensors for Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Detection

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 is an emerging human infectious disease causing acute respiratory syndrome and death, which has been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic. The rate of spread, virus mutation, and the lack of efficient drugs point out the need to develop point-of-care sensing devices with high accuracy and sensitivity. Among the various biosensor detection systems, field effect transistor biosensors (BioFETs) have several advantages, including high sensitivity, rapidity of measurement, and the need for a small amount of sample. Such sensing devices also have the advantage of being simple to manufacture on a large scale while utilizing nanotechnology and electronic developments. Another advantage is that they are simple to implement in POC devices with wireless reading technology and the Internet of Things for signal transmission and data analysis. This chapter is devoted to the description and discussion of BioFET systems specialized in SARS-CoV-2 detection. It highlights the state-of-the-art of BioFETs developed for SARS-CoV-2 detection regarding the FET structure, methods of functionalization through the gate or semiconductor, and FETs based on various nanomaterials such as graphene, silicon, and others. The bioanalytical detection method based on protein detection or RNA detection will be analyzed and discussed. The pros and cons of the different approaches will be reviewed, as well as their potential implementation as POC devices for early diagnosis.