Application of infrared spectroscopy in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus

Uzimajući u obzir brzo širenje pojedinih virusnih infekcija, poput COVID-19 u protekle dvije godine, razvoj novih, brzih i isplativih tehnika koje olakšavaju detekciju virusa (kao npr. SARS-CoV-2) od iznimne je važnosti ne samo za znanstvenu zajednicu, nego i cijelu svjetsku populaciju. Pristup koji se trenutno koristi uključuje uzimanje obriska respiratornog nazalnog materijala i naknadnu detekciju RNA pomoću RT-PCR tehnike (engl. Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) koja ponekad daje lažno-pozitivne rezultate i zahtijeva dulje dijagnostičko vrijeme. Uporabom spektroskopskih metoda, koje se temelje na interakciji uzorka s elektromagnetskim zračenjem omogućena je brža i jednostavnija detekcija virusnih infekcija. Stoga uporaba infracrvene i Raman spektroskopije u dijagnostici virusnih infekcija predstavlja propulzivno znanstveno područje. U ovom Završnom radu dan je pregled aktualnih metoda za detekciju SARS-CoV-2 virusa te su obrađeni znanstveni radovi vezani za tu tematiku s posebnim osvrtom na upotrebu infracrvene spektroskopije.Considering the rapid spread of certain viral infections, such as COVID-19 over the past two years, the development of new, rapid and cost-effective techniques that facilitate virus detection (such as SARS-CoV-2) is extremely important- not only to the scientific community but also to the entire world population. The approach, that is currently used, involves taking a swab of the respiratory nasal material and subsequent RNA detection using RT-PCR technique (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) which sometimes gives false-positive results and requires a longer diagnostic time. The use of spectroscopic methods, which are based on the interaction of the sample with electromagnetic radiation, enables faster and simpler detection of viral infections. Therefore, the use of infrared and Raman spectroscopy in the diagnosis of viral infections is a propulsive scientific field. In this Bachelor Thesis, an overview of current methods for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus is given, and scientific papers related to this topic are discussed, with special reference to the use of infrared spectroscopy