The necessity of nanotechnology in Mycoplasma pneumoniae detection: A comprehensive examination

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a prominent etiological agent of bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia. MP, the smallest prokaryotes that are wall-less, free-living, and capable of self-replication, are present in more than 200 species of arthropods, animals, and humans. The swift advancement of nanotechnology has facilitated the utilization of a wide range of nanomaterials in constructing effective biosensing platforms that can detect a variety of target analytes. Nanomaterials possess unique magnetic, optical, and electronic properties and a high ratio of surface area to volume. These attributes enable the manipulation and control of these materials through the covalent or noncovalent attachment of recognition moieties. This has generated possibilities for detecting pathogenic microbes that were hitherto unattainable. Regulating the dimensions and composition of the nanomaterials' surfaces can substantially enhance the analytical capabilities of nanomaterials used in assays. As a result, the identification of pathogenic bacteria at the location of the incident can be accomplished swiftly and with minimal sample volumes required to ensure public safety. Assays utilizing nanomaterials offer numerous advantages over traditional pathogen detection methods. These include cost-effectiveness, rapidity, and exceptional precision, mainly when applied to high-throughput screening processes. Furthermore, these assays do not require labels and provide real-time responses. Moreover, they adhere to the standards and regulations set forth by regulatory agencies, hospitals, and the food industry. Nonetheless, obstacles exist in the detection of MP. The persistent difficulty in diagnosing pneumonia caused by MP is attributable to the absence of a sensitive, specific, and rapid detection method. Early-stage MP infections are frequently misdiagnosed due to the absence of distinct clinical and imaging features and atypical symptoms. In addition to serological tests, PCR and rapid culture derived from pharynx samples are the principal laboratory diagnostic techniques. Rapid antigen assays are another example. In this review, various nanotechnology-based methods for detecting MP are examined. Although applying nanotechnology to the detection of MP has yielded encouraging results, obstacles remain to be resolved. Further research is necessary to optimize these nanotechnology-based detection methods' sensitivity, specificity, and velocity.