Emerging synergy between nanotechnology and implantable biosensors: A review

Abstract

The development of implantable biosensors for continuous monitoring of metabolites is an area of sustained scientific and technological interest. On the other hand, nanotechnology, a discipline which deals with the properties of materials at the nanoscale, is developing as a potent tool to enhance the performance of these biosensors. This article reviews the current state of implantable biosensors, highlighting the synergy between nanotechnology and sensor performance. Emphasis is placed on the electrochemical method of detection in light of its widespread usage and substantial nanotechnology-based improvements in various aspects of electrochemical biosensor performance. Finally, issues regarding toxicity and biocompatibility of nanomaterials, along with future prospects for the application of nanotechnology in implantable biosensors, are discussed.

Opening windows on new biology and disease mechanisms: development of real-time in vivo sensors

“…Although the range of in vitro biosensors is enormous, encompassing a huge variety of detection modalities with exquisite sensitivity, the range of in vivo sensors is significantly smaller owing to the unique challenges associated with in vivo sensing [1,6,7]. A particular concern is biocompatibility: any sensor must not only be biologically inert, but also not perturb the normal biology the sensor is interrogating.…”

“…In particular, the high quantum yields, photostability and long emission/excitation spectra of nanoparticles have made them natural components of next generation optical biosensors [6]. These properties of nanoparticles have been incorporated into both aptamer-and peptide-based biosensors to improve both the sensitivity and spectral characteristics of biosensors [6].…”

“…Finally, micro-scale devices include a diverse range of devices ranging from embedded electrode-based sensors to implantable microfluidic devices. It is important to note that these nano-and micro-scale devices may still use molecular-level detectors for assessing an analyte; the microdevice in this case may act as an integrated signal transducer or amplifier [1,6,11].…”

“…Molecular-scale devices are those in which the presence or absence of a substance acts on a molecule (such as a peptide, enzyme or DNA sequence) to induce a signal that is directly detected [1,10]. Nanoscale devices incorporate components of the order of 1-100 nanometres in size, such as graphene particles, nanotubes or nanoparticles, to detect, amplify or transduce information about a biological system to a detector [6]. Finally, micro-scale devices include a diverse range of devices ranging from embedded electrode-based sensors to implantable microfluidic devices.…”

Microfluidic Fabrication of Colloidal Nanomaterials-Encapsulated Microcapsules for Biomolecular Sensing

“…1,2 Advances in nanomaterial-based sensors have the potential to substantially improve disease diagnoses. 3−6 In particular, many types of colloidal nanoparticles, 7−11 nanorods, 3,12 carbon nanotubes, 4 and graphene 13 have been investigated as optical sensors.…”