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.

Chitosan—A versatile semi-synthetic polymer in biomedical applications

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is attracting increasing attention as an effective technique for the processing of biomaterials, specifically bioactive coatings and biomedical nanostructures. The well-known advantages of EPD for the production of a wide range of microstructures and nanostructures as well as unique and complex material combinations are being exploited, starting from well-dispersed suspensions of biomaterials in particulate form (microsized and nanoscale particles, nanotubes, nanoplatelets). EPD of biological entities such as enzymes, bacteria and cells is also being investigated. The review presents a comprehensive summary and discussion of relevant recent work on EPD describing the specific application of the technique in the processing of several biomaterials, focusing on (i) conventional bioactive (inorganic) coatings, e.g. hydroxyapatite or bioactive glass coatings on orthopaedic implants, and (ii) biomedical nanostructures, including biopolymer–ceramic nanocomposites, carbon nanotube coatings, tissue engineering scaffolds, deposition of proteins and other biological entities for sensors and advanced functional coatings. It is the intention to inform the reader on how EPD has become an important tool in advanced biomaterials processing, as a convenient alternative to conventional methods, and to present the potential of the technique to manipulate and control the deposition of a range of nanomaterials of interest in the biomedical and biotechnology fields.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsif.2010.0156.focus

Electrophoretic deposition of biomaterials

Ordered mesoporous materials prepared by the template route have attracted increasing interest from the electrochemists community due to their plenty of unique properties and functionalities that can be effectively exploited in electrochemical devices. This review will cover the whole field of the intersection between electrochemistry and ordered mesoporous materials. The latter are either electronically insulating (silica and some other metal oxides, as well as silica-based organic–inorganic hybrid materials), semi-conducting (metal oxides), or conducting (metals, carbons). The three main intersection areas are: (1) the development/use of electrochemical methods to characterize the properties of mesoporous materials (i.e., charge and mass transfer processes); (2) the generation of mesostructured solids by electro-assisted deposition using appropriate templates; and (3) the application of these novel materials for electrochemical purposes. The most common devices to date are based on a bulk composite or thin film configuration and the resulting electrodes modified with such mesoporous materials have been successfully applied in various fields, including mainly electrochemical sensing and biosensing as well as energy conversion and storage (620 references).

Mesoporous materials and electrochemistry

https://cmapspublic3.ihmc.us/rid=1LTYW6MQS-2275MBW-29XF/articulo%20de%20polimeros.pdf

Conductive polymer-based sensors for biomedical applications

Electrodeposition of chitosan–ionic liquid–glucose oxidase biocomposite onto nano-gold electrode for amperometric glucose sensing

In this paper, a hydroxyapatite-modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (HAP-CILE) for the simultaneous determination of lead and cadmium was developed. The hydroxyapatite which combines with ionic liquid plays an important role in remarkable responses of metals. Trace analysis of the selected heavy metals was performed by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The oxidation of two metals yielded well-defined, separated square-wave peak currents. The peak currents at about −0.34 V for Pb 2+ and −0.88 V for Cd 2+ were measured. The affecting factors containing supporting electrolyte, pH of solution, accumulation time, deposition potential, amount of hydroxyapatite and possible interferences were investigated. The sensor exhibited linear behavior in the range of 1 × 10 −9  mol L −1 to 1 × 10 −7  mol L −1 for lead and cadmium (correlation coefficients: 0.995 and 0.997, respectively) with detection limits of 2 × 10 −10  mol L −1 for lead and 5 × 10 −10  mol L −1 for cadmium. The results indicate that the sensor is sensitive and effective for the simultaneous determination of lead and cadmium.

Simultaneous determination of ultra-trace lead and cadmium at a hydroxyapatite-modified carbon ionic liquid electrode by square-wave stripping voltammetry

We describe a nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for uric acid. It is based on a carbon nanotube ionic-liquid paste electrode modified with poly(β-cyclodextrin) that was prepared in-situ by electropolymerization. The functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and the surface morphology of the modified electrodes were characterized by transmission electronic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical response of uric acid was studied by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The effects of scan rate, pH value, electropolymerization cycles and accumulation time were also studied. Under optimized experimental conditions and at a working voltage of 500 mV vs. Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl), response to uric acid is linear in the 0.6 to 400 μΜ and in the 0.4 to 1 mΜ concentration ranges, and the detection limit is 0.3 μΜ (at an S/N of 3). The electrode was successfully applied to the detection of uric acid in (spiked) human urine samples.

Non-enzymatic sensing of uric acid using a carbon nanotube ionic-liquid paste electrode modified with poly(β-cyclodextrin)

Amperometric glucose biosensor with remarkable acid stability based on glucose oxidase entrapped in colloidal gold-modified carbon ionic liquid electrode.

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalytic properties of hemoglobin immobilized on a carbon ionic liquid electrode modified with mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41.

Yonghong Li

Papers

Electrodeposition of chitosan–ionic liquid–glucose oxidase biocomposite onto nano-gold electrode for amperometric glucose sensing

Simultaneous determination of ultra-trace lead and cadmium at a hydroxyapatite-modified carbon ionic liquid electrode by square-wave stripping voltammetry

Non-enzymatic sensing of uric acid using a carbon nanotube ionic-liquid paste electrode modified with poly(β-cyclodextrin)

Amperometric glucose biosensor with remarkable acid stability based on glucose oxidase entrapped in colloidal gold-modified carbon ionic liquid electrode.

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalytic properties of hemoglobin immobilized on a carbon ionic liquid electrode modified with mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41.