Nanotechnology and Biosensors

Dimitrios P Nikolelis, Georgia Paraskevi Nikoleli

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780128138557
• eBook ISBN: 9780128138854
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Nanoscience

Nanotechnology and Biosensors shows how nanotechnology is used to create affordable, mass-produced, portable, small sized biosensors to directly monitor environmental pollutants. In addition, it provides information on their integration into components and systems for mass market applications in food analysis, environmental monitoring and health diagnostics. Nanotechnology has led to a dramatic improvement in the performance, sensitivity and selectivity of biosensors. As metal-oxide and carbon nanostructures, gold and magnetite nanoparticles, and the integration of dendrimers in biosensors using nanotechnology have contributed greatly in making biosensors more effective and affordable on a mass-market level, this book presents a timely resource on the topic.- Highlights nanotechnology-based approaches to the detection of enzyme inhibitors, direct enzymatic and microbial detection of metabolites, and nutrients using biosensors- Includes examples on how nanotechnology has lead to improvements in the construction of portable, selective and sensitive biosensing devices- Offers thorough coverage of biomarker/biosensor interaction for the rapid detection of toxicants and pollutants

Chapter 1

Prototype Biosensing Devices

Design and Microfabrication Based on Nanotechnological Tools for the Rapid in the Field Detection of Food Toxicants and Environmental Pollutants

Georgia-Paraskevi Nikoleli¹, Christina G. Siontorou², Dimitrios P. Nikolelis³, Stephanos Karapetis¹ and Spyridoula Bratakou¹, ¹National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece, ²University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece, ³University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Abstract

Nanotechnology is playing an increasingly important role in the development of biosensors. Use of nanomaterials in biosensors allows the use of many new signal transduction technologies in their manufacture. Because of their submicron size, nanosensors, nanoprobes, and other nanosystems are revolutionizing the fields of chemical and biological analysis, to enable rapid analysis of multiple substances in food and environmental samples. Recent progress in nanotechnology has resulted in producing affordable, mass-produced devices and in integrating these into components and systems (including portable ones) for mass market applications for food toxicants monitoring. Sensing includes chemical and microbiological food toxicants, such as toxins, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, phenolic compounds, allergens, genetically modified foods, hormones, and dioxins.

The sensitivity and performance of biosensors is being improved by using nanomaterials for their construction. The use of these nanomaterials has allowed the introduction of many new signal transduction technologies in biosensors. Because of their submicron dimensions, nanosensors, nanoprobes, and other nanosystems have allowed simple and rapid analyses in vivo. Portable instruments capable of analyzing multiple components are becoming available. This chapter reviews the status of the various nanostructure-based biosensors and investigates prototype biosensing devices: design and microfabrication based on nanotechnological tools yield devices suitable for the rapid in the field detection of food toxicants and environmental pollutants.

Keywords

Biosensors; nanotechnology; nanomaterials; nanostructure

Chapter Outline

• 1.1 Introduction 2
• 1.2 Nanostructures, Nanoparticles, Nanowires, Nanofibers, and Nanoprobes 3
  • 1.2.1 Tubular and Porous Nanostructures 4
  • 1.2.2 Carbon Nanotubes 4
  • 1.2.3 Other Nanotube Materials 6
• 1.3 Synthesis and Properties of Nanomaterials 6
  • 1.3.1 Noble Metal Nanomaterials 6
  • 1.3.2 Metal Oxide Nanomaterials 7
  • 1.3.3 Carbon Nanomaterials 7
  • 1.3.4 Polymer and Bionanomaterials 7
• 1.4 Electrochemical Biosensors 8
• 1.5 Optical Biosensors 9
• 1.6 Acoustic Wave Biosensors 10
• 1.7 Molecular Self-Assembly or Biomimic-Based Biosensors 10
• 1.8 Potential Application of Nanomaterials-Based Biosensors 12
  • 1.8.1 Nanomaterials-Based Biosensors for the Detection of Glucose 13
  • 1.8.2 Graphene-Based Electrochemical Enzymatic Biosensors for Hydrogen Peroxide Detection 15
  • 1.8.3 Graphene-Based Electrochemical Enzymatic Biosensors for NADH Detection 16
  • 1.8.4 Nanomaterials-Based Biosensors for the Detection of DNA and Protein 17
  • 1.8.5 Lipid-Modified Nanosensors Based on Graphene Microelectrodes for the Detection of Toxicants in Foods 17
  • 1.8.6 Nanomaterials-Based Biosensors for the Detection of Other Molecules 18
• 1.9 Environmental Applications 19
• 1.10 Challenges and Prospects 20
• References 22
• Further Reading 27

1.1 Introduction

A chemical sensor is a device that transforms the chemical information by ranging from the concentration of a specific sample component to total composition analysis into an analytically useful signal. Chemical sensors usually contain two basic components connected in series: a chemical recognition element (“receptor”) and a physicochemical transducer. The recognition system translates the chemical information (i.e., concentration of the analyte) into a chemical or physical output signal. The transducer (i.e., a physical detection system) serves to transfer the signal from the output domain of the recognition element to the electrical, optical, or piezoelectric, etc. domain. A biosensor is a self-contained integrated device which is capable of providing specific quantitative analytical information using a biological recognition element (e.g., enzymes, antibodies, natural receptors, cells, etc.), which is retained in direct spatial contact with a transduction element. Recent advances in the technology of artificial receptors have prompted a clear distinction between chemical sensors and biosensors. The latter utilize a transduction element of biological origin; however, since there has not been much development in engineered molecules, both terms are and can be used in the literature for this class of devices. The chemical sensors should be clearly distinguished from an analytical system which incorporates additional separation steps, such as liquid chromatography, or additional hardware and/or sample processing such as specific reagent introduction, e.g., flow injection analysis (FIA). Biosensors have not yet made a large impact in the area of environmental, food, biomedical, etc. applications, but clearly offer advantages in comparison to standard analytical methods, such as minimal sample preparation and handling, real-time detection, rapid detection of the analytes of concern, and use of nonskilled personnel. Because of the importance of the ability of biosensors to be repeatedly calibrated, the term multiple-use biosensor is limited to devices suitable for monitoring both the increase and decrease of the analyte concentrations. Thus, single-use devices which cannot rapidly and reproducibly be regenerated should be named single.

Progress in nanosciences has led to a range of new technologies that allow us to drastically improve, and even rethink and create totally new industrial processes and products, offering new functionalities. Sensors are core elements in any intelligent system for monitoring and controlling natural and industrial environments, and nanotechnology is offering new functionalities opening for totally new sensors, sensing-based systems, and applications. Recent trends of integrated electronics have started a revolution in this field allowing the shrink of very complex electronic systems into millimeter square sizes. This would allow implementing complex and sophisticated instrumentation in cheap and portable devices for a fast detection of harmful and toxic agents.

Nanotechnology involves the study and use of materials and devices typically with dimensions smaller than 0.100 µm. Nanotechnology is playing an increasingly important role in the development of biosensors (Vo-Dinh et al., 2001; Haruyama, 2003; Jain, 2003). Sensitivity, selectivity, response times, and other characteristics of biosensors can be improved by using nanotechnological advances in their construction. Nanomaterials with dimensions ranging in scale from 1 to 100 nm display unique physical and chemical features because of effects such as the quantum size effect, mini size effect, surface effect, and macro-quantum tunnel effect.

Nanotechnology and biosensors may present a double-edged sword to the food and agricultural systems. The sensitivity and performance of biosensors is being improved by using nanomaterials for their construction. The use of nanomaterials in biosensors permits the use of new signal transduction schemes for their manufacture. Because of their submicron size, nanosensors and nanoprobes are revolutionizing the fields of chemical and biological analysis, to enable rapid analysis of multiple substances in vivo. Portable instruments capable of analyzing multiple components are becoming available. This work reviews the status of the various nanostructure-based biosensors putting emphasis on their design and microfabrication based on nanotechnological tools.

1.2 Nanostructures, Nanoparticles, Nanowires, Nanofibers, and Nanoprobes

A nanostructure is a structure of intermediate size between microscopic and molecular structures. Nanotextured surfaces have only one dimension on the nanoscale, i.e., the thickness of the surface of an object is between 0.1 and 100 nm. Nanotubes have two dimensions on the nanoscale, i.e., the diameter of the tube is between 0.1 and 100 nm and a length that is more. Spherical nanoparticles have three dimensions and the particle is 0.1 to 100 nm in each spatial dimension.

Novel nanomaterials for biosensor technology presently are a rapidly growing field. Various nanostructures have been investigated to seek possible applications in biosensors. These nanostructures are nanotubes, nanofibers, nanorods, nanoparticles, and thin films. The present chapter discusses devices based on various nanostructures.

Nanoparticles have a large number of applications in biosensor technology. For example, functional nanoparticles (electronic, optical, and magnetic), which are bound to biological molecules (e.g., proteins, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), lipids), have been constructed to be used in biosensor technology in order to detect and amplify the signals. The nanoparticle-based sensors include electrochemical, optical, and acoustic wave biosensors. This biosensor technology is discussed herein.

Boron-doped silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were used to create highly sensitive, real-time electrically based biosensors to detect biological and chemical species (Cui et al., 2001). The amine and oxide-functionalized SiNWs have shown a pH-dependent conductance which was linear over a large dynamic range that could be explained in terms of the change in surface charge during protonation and deprotonation. Biotin-modified SiNWs were used to detect streptavidin to a picomolar concentration range. In addition, antigen-functionalized SiNWs have shown reversible antibody binding and could be det...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• List of Contributors
• Preface
• Chapter 1. Prototype Biosensing Devices: Design and Microfabrication Based on Nanotechnological Tools for the Rapid in the Field Detection of Food Toxicants and Environmental Pollutants
• Chapter 2. Biosensors for Intracellular and Less Invasive Measurements Based on Nanostructured Metal Oxides
• Chapter 3. Carbon Electrodes in Electrochemical Analysis of Biomolecules and Bioactive Substances: Roles of Surface Structures and Chemical Groups
• Chapter 4. Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Electrochemical DNA Sensing
• Chapter 5. Gold Nanoparticle-Based Technologies in Photothermal/Photodynamic Treatment: The Challenges and Prospects
• Chapter 6. Encapsulated Magnetite Nanoparticles: Preparation and Application as Multifunctional Tool for Drug Delivery Systems
• Chapter 7. Metal Nanomaterial-Assisted Aptasensors for Emerging Pollutants Detection
• Chapter 8. Impedimetric Aptasensors Using Nanomaterials
• Chapter 9. Electroanalytical Bioplatforms Based on Carbon Nanostructures as New Tools for Diagnosis
• Chapter 10. Dendrimers Integrated Biosensors for Healthcare Applications
• Chapter 11. Electrochemical Nucleic Acid Sensors Based on Nanomaterials for Medical Diagnostics
• Chapter 12. Electrochemical Hybridization-Based Biosensor in Environmental Monitoring
• Chapter 13. Biosensors Based on Microfluidic Devices Lab-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Technology
• Chapter 14. Nanolayers in Fiber-Optic Biosensing
• Index