Recent development of nanotechnology-empowered antigen assay methods for the control of infectious diseases

The global spread of air-borne diseases, such as Covid-19 caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has significantly impacted public health and economic development worldwide. Accurate and rapid detection of pathogens is the key to controlling the spread of infection and reducing severe illness and death. Compared to nucleic acid testing, rapid antigen testing for pathogen proteins shows unique advantages such as convenience, speed, and cost-effectiveness, but its sensitivity is limited. Here, we review the latest progress in the development of immunological assay methods for infectious diseases. We summarize the principles, performance, advantages and limitations of several representative methods. We highlight recent efforts in utilizing nanotechnology to engineer biosensing interfaces, offering enhanced sensitivity while maintaining convenience for on-site diagnosis. Finally, we provide an outlook on the development of this field.