Challenges and development strategies of conjugated polymers composites-based biosensors for detection of virus biomarkers

With the development of advanced materials and technologies, many strategies have been proposed to extend the applicability of conducting polymers (CPs) in biosensors for virus detection. Conducting polymer composites (CPCs) have recently garnered great attention from the scientific community for their innovation of biosensor platforms due to the synergy of the individual components which induce several superior advantages, including multifunctionalized properties, high mechanical performance, aqueous solubility, excellent charge transport characteristics, and good solution processability. Various materials have been combined with CPs to synthesize CPCs for use in electrochemical and optical biosensors, enabling the monitoring of diverse virus biomarkers. Nonetheless, the design and fabrication of these biosensors with high reliability and practical applicability have remained big challenges. Therefore, development strategies to improve the viability of such biosensors in detecting virus biomarkers are necessary. To provide consolidated scientific evidence, this review aims to summarize and discuss recent research on the development trends, potentials, and emerging approaches in the design and fabrication of CPCs-based electrochemical and optical biosensors, thereby encouraging further future studies. Problems and challenges in the use of pure CPs as well as the potential applicability of CPCs within this field are also clarified. The fundamental components and working mechanisms, along with the recent advancements of different materials for fabricating CPCs-based biosensors are highlighted as well. CPCs-based biosensors show great potential as an ideal platform for designing effective and user-friendly biosensing devices, aimed at the rapid and accurate diagnosis of virus biomarkers.