On-Chip PCR Based Plasmonic Microfluidic Platform: Ultrafast Point-of-Care Diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

It is critically important to have rapid screening and identification of contagious viral diseases such as the current COVID-19 pandemic that is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Rapid and accurate diagnostic is essential for preventing worldwide spread of virus and ensuring in-time care for patients during the fast spread of pandemic diseases. Nanobiotechnology enabled tools have allowed to develop advanced polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnostics of contagious viral diseases. To this end, microfluidic on-chip PCR platforms have shown huge promise for highly efficient, rapid and small-volume bioassay for point-of-care (POC) diagnostic applications in mitigating the challenges of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we discuss latest advances in ultrafast, real-time, and on-chip nanoplasmonic PCR for rapid and quantitative molecular diagnostics at POC level.