Detection of chemical and biological agents plays a fundamental role in biomedical, forensic and environmental sciences1–4 as well as in anti bioterrorism applications.5–7 The development of highly sensitive, cost effective, miniature sensors is therefore in high demand which requires advanced technology coupled with fundamental knowledge in chemistry, biology and material sciences.8–13

In general, sensors feature two functional components: a recognition element to provide selective/specific binding with the target analytes and a transducer component for signaling the binding event. An efficient sensor relies heavily on these two essential components for the recognition process in terms of response time, signal to noise (S/N) ratio, selectivity and limits of detection (LOD).14,15 Therefore, designing sensors with higher efficacy depends on the development of novel materials to improve both the recognition and transduction processes. Nanomaterials feature unique physicochemical properties that can be of great utility in creating new recognition and transduction processes for chemical and biological sensors15–27 as well as improving the S/N ratio by miniaturization of the sensor elements.28

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess distinct physical and chemical attributes that make them excellent scaffolds for the fabrication of novel chemical and biological sensors (Figure 1).29–36 First, AuNPs can be synthesized in a straightforward manner and can be made highly stable. Second, they possess unique optoelectronic properties. Third, they provide high surface-to-volume ratio with excellent biocompatibility using appropriate ligands.30 Fourth, these properties of AuNPs can be readily tuned varying their size, shape and the surrounding chemical environment. For example, the binding event between recognition element and the analyte can alter physicochemical properties of transducer AuNPs, such as plasmon resonance absorption, conductivity, redox behavior, etc. that in turn can generate a detectable response signal. Finally, AuNPs offer a suitable platform for multi-functionalization with a wide range of organic or biological ligands for the selective binding and detection of small molecules and biological targets.30–32,36 Each of these attributes of AuNPs has allowed researchers to develop novel sensing strategies with improved sensitivity, stability and selectivity. In the last decade of research, the advent of AuNP as a sensory element provided us a broad spectrum of innovative approaches for the detection of metal ions, small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, malignant cells, etc. in a rapid and efficient manner.37



Figure 1

Physical properties of AuNPs and schematic illustration of an AuNP-based detection system.



In this current review, we have highlighted the several synthetic routes and properties of AuNPs that make them excellent probes for different sensing strategies. Furthermore, we will discuss various sensing strategies and major advances in the last two decades of research utilizing AuNPs in the detection of variety of target analytes including metal ions, organic molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, and microorganisms.

/pdf/gold-nanoparticles-in-chemical-and-biological-sensing-5e2qojkdzn.pdf

Gold nanoparticles in chemical and biological sensing.

9.2. Protein-Based Hg(II) Detectors 3467 9.3. Oligonucleotide-Based Hg(II) Detector 3467 9.4. DNAzyme-Based Hg(II) Detectors 3469 9.5. Antibody-Based Hg(II) Detector 3469 10. Mercury Detectors Based on Materials 3469 10.1. Soluble and Fluorescent Polymers 3469 10.2. Membranes, Films, and Fibers 3471 10.3. Micelles 3473 10.4. Nanoparticles 3473 11. Perspectives 3474 12. Addendum 3475 12.1. Small Molecules 3475 12.2. Biomolecules 3477 12.3. Materials 3477 13. List of Abbreviations 3477 14. Acknowledgments 3478 15. References 3478

Tools and tactics for the optical detection of mercuric ion.

Exposure to even very low levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions is known to cause neurological, reproductive, cardiovascular, and developmental disorders, which are more serious problems for children particularly. Accordingly, great efforts have been devoted to the development of fluorescent and colorimetric sensors, which can selectively detect lead, cadmium, and mercury ions. In this critical review, the fluorescent and colorimetric sensors are classified according to their receptors into several categories, including small molecule based sensors, calixarene based chemosensors, BODIPY based chemosensors, polymer based chemosensors, DNA functionalized sensing systems, protein based sensing systems and nanoparticle based sensing systems (197 references).

Fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for detection of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions

Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) concerns formation of selective sites in a polymer matrix with the memory of a template. Recently, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have aroused extensive attention and been widely applied in many fields, such as solid-phase extraction, chemical sensors and artificial antibodies owing to their desired selectivity, physical robustness, thermal stability, as well as low cost and easy preparation. With the rapid development of MIT as a research hotspot, it faces a number of challenges, involving biological macromolecule imprinting, heterogeneous binding sites, template leakage, incompatibility with aqueous media, low binding capacity and slow mass transfer, which restricts its applications in various aspects. This critical review briefly reviews the current status of MIT, particular emphasis on significant progresses of novel imprinting methods, some challenges and effective strategies for MIT, and highlighted applications of MIPs. Finally, some significant attempts in further developing MIT are also proposed (236 references).

http://ir.yic.ac.cn/bitstream/133337/4853/1/Recent%20advances%20in%20molecular%20imprinting%20technology%20current%20status%2c%20challenges%20and%20highlighted%20applications.pdf

Recent advances in molecular imprinting technology: current status, challenges and highlighted applications

Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years up to and including 2003

Application of molecularly imprinted polymers to solid-phase extraction of analytes from real samples.

Extraction of testosterone and epitestosterone in human urine using aqueous two-phase systems of ionic liquid and salt.

Ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase system, a sample pretreatment procedure prior to high-performance liquid chromatography of opium alkaloids.

In the present paper, a new cyclodextrin/porphyrin supramolecular sensitizer for zinc ion has been proposed based on the porphyrin dual fluorescence emission ratio. In aqueous solution, meso-tetraphenylporphyrin shows weak fluorescence, while in the presence of alkylated beta-cyclodextrin, it exhibits significant fluorescence enhancement by forming a cyclodextrin/porphyrin inclusion complex. Furthermore, the formation of a supramolecular complex causes a remarkable increase of the porphyrin metalation rate following the porphyrin fluorescence emission changes at two different emission wavelengths. The fluorescence emission of tetraphenylporphyrin at 656-nm bands decreases while that at 606 nm increases upon zinc ion interaction. Thus, the inclusion complex can behave as a ratiometric fluorescent sensor. Theoretically derivative equations for fluorescent ratiometry have been proposed for the first time. The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated by the performance of fluorometric detection of zinc ion. With the optimum conditions described, zinc ion in aqueous solution can be determined from 5.0 x 10(-7) to 2.5 x 10(-4) M. As the porphyrin electronic absorption and fluorescence emission are located in the visible range, and the fluorescence changes upon zinc ion interaction show high selectivity over biologically relevant cations, the inclusion complex could be used for biomedical application.

Porphyrin Assembly on β-Cyclodextrin for Selective Sensing and Detection of a Zinc Ion Based on the Dual Emission Fluorescence Ratio

Electrospun nanofibrous film doped with a fluorescent conjugated polymer P was developed as a sensory device for detection of the explosive 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). Polymer P obtained through a Sonogashira cross-coupling polymerization showed high affinity and excellent fluorescence quenching property toward electro-deficient compound DNT in solution. A versatile and effective electrospinning technique, which effectively reduced aggregation and fluorescence self-quenching of the conjugated polymers in thin film by the traditional spin-casting, was successfully employed to develop explosive-sensing nanofibrous devices. By doping with polystyrene as supporting matrix and subsequent electrospinning, the obtained fluorescent nanofibrous film exhibited remarkable sensitivity to trace DNT vapor due to a large surface area-to-volume ratio and unique porous structure. The sensitivity of the device was further improved by introducing secondary pores into the nanofibers through addition of a surfactant, sodium dod...

Kean Li

Papers

Application of molecularly imprinted polymers to solid-phase extraction of analytes from real samples.

Extraction of testosterone and epitestosterone in human urine using aqueous two-phase systems of ionic liquid and salt.

Ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase system, a sample pretreatment procedure prior to high-performance liquid chromatography of opium alkaloids.

Porphyrin Assembly on β-Cyclodextrin for Selective Sensing and Detection of a Zinc Ion Based on the Dual Emission Fluorescence Ratio

Electrospun Nanofibrous Film Doped with a Conjugated Polymer for DNT Fluorescence Sensor