In particular, aptamers that have utilised the spectroscopic properties of gold nanoparticles 35, 36 , as they transition from aggregated and disaggregated states, as a signal transduction mechanism for colourimetric or lateral flow assays have demonstrated enhanced utility in detecting biochemical markers such as adenosine and cocaine , thrombin , ATP and platelet-derived growth factor receptors . Therefore, aptamers, specific to viral biomarkers , and gold nanoparticles engineered to change their aggregation state when exposed to target could be used to stratify patients infected with enteroviruses, to improve disease management, augment treatment pathways and prevent the rise of antimicrobial resistance .