A review of the role of graphene-based nanomaterials in tackling challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic

Sachin Sharma Ashok Kumar; Shahid Bashir; M Pershaanaa; Fathiah Kamarulazam; A V Kuppusamy; Nujud Badawi; K Ramesh; S Ramesh

doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107059

A review of the role of graphene-based nanomaterials in tackling challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic

Microb Pathog. 2024 Oct 22:197:107059. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107059. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sachin Sharma Ashok Kumar¹, Shahid Bashir², M Pershaanaa³, Fathiah Kamarulazam³, A V Kuppusamy⁴, Nujud Badawi⁵, K Ramesh⁶, S Ramesh⁷

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Ionics Universiti Malaya, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; School of Engineering, Taylor's University, 1 Jalan Taylor's, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: sachin.sharma@taylors.edu.my.
² Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC), Level 4, Wisma R&D, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Pantai Baharu, 59990, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Centre for Ionics Universiti Malaya, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁴ School of Engineering and Computing, Manipal International University, Putra Nilai, 71800, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
⁵ University of Hafr Al-Batin College of Science, Hafer Al-Batin, 39921, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Centre for Ionics Universiti Malaya, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Physical Sciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha University (SIMATS), Chennai, India. Electronic address: rameshkasi@um.edu.my.
⁷ Centre for Ionics Universiti Malaya, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Physical Sciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha University (SIMATS), Chennai, India.

PMID: 39442812
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107059

Abstract

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic due to the emergence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which had resulted by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At present, the emergence of many new variants and mutants were found to be more harmful compared to the previous strains. As a result, research scientists around the world had devoted significant efforts to understand the mechanism, causes and transmission due to COVID-19 along with the treatment to cure these diseases. However, despite achieving several findings, much more was unknown and yet to be explored. Hence, along with these developments, it is also extremely essential to design effective systems by incorporating smart materials to battle the COVID-19. Therefore, several approaches have been implemented to combat against COVID-19. Recently, the graphene-based materials have been explored for the current COVID-19 and future pandemics due to its superior physicochemical properties, providing efficient nanoplatforms for optical and electrochemical sensing and diagnostic applications with high sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, based on the photothermal effects or reactive oxygen species formation, the carbon-based nanomaterials have shown its potentiality for targeted antiviral drug delivery and the inhibitory effects against pathogenic viruses. Therefore, this review article sheds light on the recent progress and the most promising strategies related to graphene and related materials and its applications for detection, decontamination, diagnosis, and protection against COVID-19. In addition, the key challenges and future directives are discussed in detail for fundamental design and development of technologies based on graphene-based materials along with the demand aspects of graphene-based products and lastly, our personal opinions on the appropriate approaches to improve these technologies respectively.

Keywords: Anti-viral; COVID-19; Electrochemical biosensors; Face mask; Graphene; Graphene oxide (GO); SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Review