Recent Emerging Nanomaterials for LFA‐Based Diagnostic Sensor Technologies Toward Virus Detection

Abstract Viruses are global health concern that has always leave a long‐lasting impact on worldwide economy and lifestyle. In recent years, SARS‐CoV‐2 epidemic is described as a major causative agent for morbidity and mortality. The sole idea behind point of care diagnostics test is to decrease the disease transmission by offering rapid clinical decision in resource‐restricted settings. In this context, lateral flow assay (LFA) is a most‐popular, user‐friendly, and an inexpensive point of care diagnostic tool to assess the early‐onset of viruses in patients through selective detection of their antigens, antibodies, and whole viruses. Nanomaterials owing to its unique properties, such as surface plasmon resonance, para magnetic behavior, and high surface to volume ratio…have been devoted for enhancing sensing performance of LFA tools for detection of target analytes. This review primarily aims to make in‐depth studies of various categories of nanomaterials with their critical involvement in improving the efficiency of LFAs diagnostic tool, specifically towards viral detection. We also further discuss the design and working principle of LFA alongside their advantages over primitive viral antigen detection technology. We also highlighted some challenges and forthcoming opportunities for inspiring research with the application of newly engineered nanomaterials for enhancing the LFAs.