Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Boost COVID-19 Detection

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global search for effective ways to detect the virus, SARS-CoV-2, beyond vaccines and therapies. One promising method is surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which boosts the signals of molecular probes using special nanomaterials. Gold and silver nanoparticles are particularly effective in enhancing these signals due to their unique ability to create intense "hot spots" of electromagnetic fields. Scientists have explored different shapes and structures of gold nanomaterials (AuNMs) and silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) to amplify the Raman signals of probes attached to them. This helps in accurately identifying and quantifying the virus. Additionally, researchers have developed unique probe molecules that can give specific tags or responses in SERS, aiding in the precise detection of SARS-CoV-2.