Tailoring fluorescent probes for detecting COVID-19 virus in bio-samples and in vivo

The COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has led to a global health crisis. The expeditious and dependable detection of SARS-CoV-2 is imperative for the efficacious control and management of the pandemic. Nevertheless, methods currently leveraged in clinical cases encounter notable challenges, encompassing elevated costs, protracted detection time, and vulnerability to false-positive outcomes, impeding the overall detection effectiveness. By comparison, fluorescent probes have become a promising tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 due to their high sensitivity, specificity, and real-time imaging capabilities. However, currently, there is no comprehensive review to expound upon the potential of fabricating fluorescent probes for COVID-19 detection. Under this objective, this review summarizes the applications of fluorescent probes in COVID-19 detection over the past three years. According to different detection targets, these probes are roughly divided into four categories: main protease, spike protein, nucleocapsid protein, and RNAs, and their response principles are well-described. Moreover, recent advancements in fluorescent probes for SARS-CoV-2 detection and their potential for clinical applications are also discussed. Overall, fluorescent probe-based detection technology presents promising prospects in the field of COVID-19 research, offering in-depth insights into the pathogenesis and facilitating the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.