Dengue-virosensor: advancement of dengue virus-based biosensors

Abstract

Dengue is one of the world's fastest-growing health issues, affecting primarily tropical and sub-tropical countries. Dengue infection is spread via mosquitoes, i.e., Aedes, and caused by the dengue virus (DENV), a single-stranded RNA virus having 4 serotypes, i.e., DENV 1–4, and any one of the 4-serotypes can cause dengue fever. Dengue symptoms can range from asymptomatic primary infection to fatal secondary infections, such as dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Since there are no dengue vaccinations or antiviral treatments available, total bed rest, proper hydration, and the use of analgesics for symptomatic pain relief are usually prescribed, which make recovery both difficult and time-consuming. This mandates the development of early detection methods for DENV so that the disease can be stopped before it spreads. For example, traditional laboratory-based diagnostic approaches for detecting dengue infection have one or more flaws. This includes cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses, the need for several samples for serological assays, and the high cost and complexity of PCR processes. Thus, biosensors have garnered considerably greater attention because of their simple fabrication, ease of use, ultra-sensitivity, selectivity, and low cost of production. This review starts with an introduction and a discussion on the conventional methods used for dengue virus detection, along with their limitations. Later, recently developed and futuristic biosensors are summarized before and finally closing this review with a brief conclusion.