Review—Bio-Nanosensors: Fundamentals and Recent Applications

Abstract

Nanosensors to detect and measure biomarkers are increasingly pervasive in our daily lives. Nanostructured materials provide an unprecedented opportunity to measure ultra-low concentrations (<nM L −1 ) of target analytes, which in turn enables improved understanding of complex biological processes. Sensors with low detection limits serve multiple roles, most notably for early detection of diseases, containment of infections and viral propagation, monitoring biodata, and food quality control, as well as elucidating high-resolution genome-phenome relationships. Here, we introduce the fundamental components of a bio-nanosensor, including the signal transduction elements and target-selective receptors (e.g., low molecular weight synthetic moieties, or organic molecules such as DNA, enzyme, antibody, etc). We focus on electronic, electromechanical, optical, and electrochemical transducers, and discuss how the advent of nanostructured materials, particularly 2D materials and nanoparticles, have enabled improved performance in terms of biocompatibility, sensitivity, selectivity, wearability, and limits of detection. We present an overview of recent progress in the development and application of nanomaterials for the detection and quantification of biomarkers, along with the pros and cons of the different transduction strategies, and close with a discussion of persisting challenges and opportunities in the field.

Machine Learning Techniques for Improving Nanosensors in Agroenvironmental Applications

“…Nanosensors refers to the application of nanomaterials for the detection of analytes through the generation of signals that are then read using appropriate devices [99][100][101]. Nanomaterials are generally considered to be highly suitable for use as sensors due to the following general properties.…”

Biomimicry in nanotechnology: a comprehensive review

“…Taking inspiration from mother nature, researchers and scientists are now trying to design nanosensors that very closely emulate nature's sophisticated way of effortlessly binding to an analyte or generating signals. While there are many studies that review nanosensors in light of specic applications, [89][90][91][92] there still ceases to exist any comprehensive review on "biomimicry and nanosensors". In this section, we will review some of the nanosensors which were designed by taking inspirations from the biosphere, specically in the following domains: optical nanosensing, peptide nanosensing, tactile nanosensing, and stimuli responsive nanosensing (Fig.…”

An optical aptamer-based cytokine nanosensor detects macrophage activation by bacterial toxins

“…They have shown great promise in point-of-care devices, personalized medicine, and accessible techniques for early diagnostics. [12][13][14] Nanosensors which utilize optical signal transduction methods are particularly attractive due to their potential for high-resolution imaging and minimally invasive in vivo sensing. 15 Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are versatile materials that can be functionalized to detect a variety of clinically relevant molecules.…”