Advances of nanopore sensors toward virus detection and diagnostic applications

With the advantages of ultra-sensitivity and high throughput, nanopore technology has now evolved into a versatile tool for a wide range of practical applications, including genomic sequencing, proteomic analysis, and detection of various infectious and noninfectious diseases using biomarkers. Especially for infectious diseases, the rapid diagnosis of pathogenic microorganisms is a critical prerequisite for pandemic control and treatment. It is well known that the whole-genome sequences of some pandemic viruses have been accomplished to provide a high-resolution view of pathogen surveillance. This article reviews the progress of nanopore sensors towards virus detection and clinical applications, focusing on innovative strategies aimed at enhancing the detection efficiency. Intrinsically, the nanopore allows the single-molecule counting of viruses in nanofluidic channels. Some nucleic acid and protein components of the viruses are also potential target candidates for virus detection. Meanwhile, a variety of molecular probes involving aptamers, nucleic acids, peptides and nanoparticles have been designed to improve the detection sensitivity of target viruses. The stochastic sensing mode of nanopores further simplifies the conventional testing process, focusing on the rapid and qualitative identification of multiplex viruses, making it more feasible for portable, point-of-care diagnostics.