scholarly journals Graphene-Based Strategies in Liquid Biopsy and in Viral Diseases Diagnosis

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalaura Cordaro ◽  
Giulia Neri ◽  
Maria Teresa Sciortino ◽  
Angela Scala ◽  
Anna Piperno

Graphene-based materials are intriguing nanomaterials with applications ranging from nanotechnology-related devices to drug delivery systems and biosensing. Multifunctional graphene platforms were proposed for the detection of several typical biomarkers (i.e., circulating tumor cells, exosomes, circulating nucleic acids, etc.) in liquid biopsy, and numerous methods, including optical, electrochemical, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), etc., have been developed for their detection. Due to the massive advancements in biology, material chemistry, and analytical technology, it is necessary to review the progress in this field from both medical and chemical sides. Liquid biopsy is considered a revolutionary technique that is opening unexpected perspectives in the early diagnosis and, in therapy monitoring, severe diseases, including cancer, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although nanotechnology based on graphene has been poorly applied for the rapid diagnosis of viral diseases, the extraordinary properties of graphene (i.e., high electronic conductivity, large specific area, and surface functionalization) can be also exploited for the diagnosis of emerging viral diseases, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This review aimed to provide a comprehensive and in-depth summarization of the contribution of graphene-based nanomaterials in liquid biopsy, discussing the remaining challenges and the future trend; moreover, the paper gave the first look at the potentiality of graphene in COVID-19 diagnosis.

Eye ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwin Venkatesh ◽  
Ravi Patel ◽  
Simran Goyal ◽  
Timothy Rajaratnam ◽  
Anant Sharma ◽  
...  

AbstractEmerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are an increasing threat to public health on a global scale. In recent times, the most prominent outbreaks have constituted RNA viruses, spreading via droplets (COVID-19 and Influenza A H1N1), directly between humans (Ebola and Marburg), via arthropod vectors (Dengue, Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya, Crimean Congo) and zoonotically (Lassa fever, Nipah, Rift Valley fever, Hantaviruses). However, specific approved antiviral therapies and vaccine availability are scarce, and public health measures remain critical. Patients can present with a spectrum of ocular manifestations. Emerging infectious diseases should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of ocular inflammatory conditions in patients inhabiting or returning from endemic territories, and more general vigilance is advisable in the context of a global pandemic. Eye specialists are in a position to facilitate swift diagnosis, improve clinical outcomes, and contribute to wider public health efforts during outbreaks. This article reviews those emerging viral diseases associated with reports of ocular manifestations and summarizes details pertinent to practicing eye specialists.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 622
Author(s):  
Arne Krüger ◽  
Ana Paula de Jesus Santos ◽  
Vanessa de Sá ◽  
Henning Ulrich ◽  
Carsten Wrenger

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules which are submitted to a process denominated SELEX. SELEX uses reiterative screening of a random oligonucleotide library to identify high-affinity binders to a chosen target, which may be a peptide, protein, or entire cells or viral particles. Aptamers can rival antibodies in target recognition, and benefit from their non-proteic nature, ease of modification, increased stability, and pharmacokinetic properties. This turns them into ideal candidates for diagnostic as well as therapeutic applications. Here, we review the recent accomplishments in the development of aptamers targeting emerging viral diseases, with emphasis on recent findings of aptamers binding to coronaviruses. We focus on aptamer development for diagnosis, including biosensors, in addition to aptamer modifications for stabilization in body fluids and tissue penetration. Such aptamers are aimed at in vivo diagnosis and treatment, such as quantification of viral load and blocking host cell invasion, virus assembly, or replication, respectively. Although there are currently no in vivo applications of aptamers in combating viral diseases, such strategies are promising for therapy development in the future.


Author(s):  
A. Wilder-Smith

Abstract Purpose of review The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major global health threat. The rapid spread was facilitated by air travel although rigorous travel bans and lockdowns were able to slow down the spread. How does COVID-19 compare with other emerging viral diseases of the past two decades? Recent findings Viral outbreaks differ in many ways, such as the individuals most at risk e.g. pregnant women for Zika and the elderly for COVID-19, their vectors of transmission, their fatality rate, and their transmissibility often measured as basic reproduction number. The risk of geographic spread via air travel differs significantly between emerging infectious diseases. Summary COVID-19 is not associated with the highest case fatality rate compared with other emerging viral diseases such as SARS and Ebola, but the combination of a high reproduction number, superspreading events and a globally immunologically naïve population has led to the highest global number of deaths in the past 20 decade compared to any other pandemic.


2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Touil ◽  
Z. Cherkaoui ◽  
Z. Lmrabih ◽  
C. Loutfi ◽  
B. Harif ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (08) ◽  
pp. 2130001
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Fujimoto

Molecular sensor applications are used in different fields including environmental monitoring and medical diagnosis. Graphene, a single atomic layer consisting of the hexagonally arranged carbon material, is one of the most promising materials for ideal channels in field-effect transistors to be used as electronic sensing applications owing to its lightweight, mechanical robustness, high electronic conductivity and large surface-to-volume ratio. This paper provides a review of molecular adsorptions, electronic properties and quantum transport of graphene based on the first-principles density-functional study. The adsorption properties of environmentally polluting or toxic molecules and electronic transport of graphene are revealed. The possibility of detecting these molecules selectively is also discussed for designing the graphene-based sensor applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 020-027
Author(s):  
Angel San Miguel Hernández ◽  
María San Miguel Rodríguez ◽  
Angel San Miguel Rodriguez

Emerging viral diseases encompass two types, those of new appearance in the population and those that we previously knew about or re-emerging, but that at a certain moment present an exponential increase in incidence or geographic distribution in the form of epidemics or outbreaks. These emerging and re-emerging viruses share a series of characteristics that establish the emerging virus model, such as having an RNA genome, being zoonotic, transmitted by vectors and transmissible to humans, that the virus is able to recognize and provoke a response in receptors. Conserved in several species and inhabiting ecosystems that undergo ecological, demographic or social changes that favor the spread of the virus. There are different factors that contribute to facilitating the emergence of viral infections, although this is made up of three fundamental aspects such as the susceptible population, the virus itself and the environment where both can interact.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (37) ◽  
pp. 19991-19996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuecheng Cao ◽  
Zhihui Sun ◽  
Xiangjun Zheng ◽  
Jinghua Tian ◽  
Chao Jin ◽  
...  

The application of MnCo2O4 (MCO) decorated Ti4O7 as a carbon-free cathode for Li–O2 batteries is reported for the first time. The high performance of Ti4O7/MCO cathode is attributed to the high electronic conductivity of Ti4O7, the high electrocatalytic activity of MCO and the synergistic interaction between Ti4O7 and MCO toward ORR and OER.


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