Nanobioengineered-based hybrid electrochemical biosensors exploit the synergistic properties of hybrid systems that connect biomolecules with nanomaterials to engineer highly sensitive biosensing platforms for the specific electrochemical detection of different target analytes.
Nanomaterial |
Hybrid a |
Target b |
Analytical Characteristics |
Comments |
References |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Linear Range |
LOD |
|||||
Metallic nanostructures |
3D hybrid graphene–GNR. |
H2O2 |
0 to 50 mM |
2.9 µM |
Metallic nanostructures have high catalytic activity, easy preparation, and relatively low cost. However, this kind of nanomaterial can change its oxidation state due to variations in conditions of the medium, such as pH, ionic strength, and temperature upon time. |
[43] |
TiO2 nanoparticles encapsulated ZIF-8 |
Glucose |
2 to 10 mM |
80 nM |
[44] |
||
Nanohybrid of VS2/AuNP and CoFe2O4 nanozyme |
Kana |
1 pM to 1 μM |
0.5 pM |
[45] |
||
Ag and hybrid Ag–Fe3O4 metallic nanoparticles. |
AA |
0.2–60 μM |
74 nM |
[46] |
||
Silicon nanomaterials |
mSiO2@MWCNT. |
Thrombin |
0.0001 nM and 80 nM |
50 fM |
These nanomaterials have high mechanical resistance, thermal stability, long functional life, and versatility; nonetheless, they require long synthetic processes, and their application is limited to certain analytes. |
[31] |
MSF/APTES/AgNP |
STR |
1 to 6.2 ng/mL |
0.33 fg/mL |
[47] |
||
Ap–GA–NH2MCM-41–GCE |
hemin and Hb |
1.0 × 10−19 to 1.0 × 10−6 M |
7.5 × 10−20 M and 6.5 × 10−20 M |
[48] |
||
AuNPs loaded in functionalized MSNPs |
CEA |
1.0 × 10−3 to 100 ng/mL |
9.8 × 10−4 ng/mL |
[49] |
||
Carbon nanostructures |
MWCNTs and GQDs. |
IL-13Rα2 |
2.7 to 100 ng/mL |
0.8 ng/mL |
These nanomaterials enjoy thermal stability, large surface area, and a wide range of nanostructures and functional groups. They are the main nanomaterials used in the preparation of electrochemical biosensors. |
[50] |
GQDs/AuNPs. |
P53 |
0.000592–1.296 pM |
0.065 fM |
[51] |
||
CQDs/AuNps |
Glucose |
0.05 mM to 2.85 mM |
17 μM |
[52] |
||
CoCu-ZIF@CDs |
B16-F10 cells |
1 × 102 to 1 × 105 cells/mL |
33 cells/mL |
[53] |
||
Polymers |
(Chi-Py) mixture, AuNPs, and MWCNT |
Escherichia coli |
3 × 101 to 3 × 107 cfu/mL |
~30 CFU/mL |
These have high biocompatibility, high affinity, strong adsorption ability, low molecular permeability, physical rigidity, and chemical inertness in biological processes. However, functionalizing their surface is necessary for the anchorage of bioreceptors, and some polymers oxidize due to changes in medium conditions. |
[54] |
PANI/active carbon and n-TiO2 |
Glucose |
0.02 mM to 6.0 mM |
18 μM |
[55] |
||
PEG/AuNPs/PANI |
alpha-fetoprotein |
10−14 to 10−6 mg/mL |
0.007 pg/mL |
[56] |
||
Other nanostructured nanomaterials |
WSe2 and AuNPs |
Thrombin |
0–1 ng/mL |
190 fg/mL |
Other hybrid nanostructures have a large specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and electrocatalytic properties. |
[57] |
MoS2/Ti3C2 nanohybrids |
miRNA |
1 fM to 0.1 nM |
0.43 fM |
[58] |
||
AuNPs/Ti3C2 MXene 3D |
miRNA155 |
1.0 fM to 10 nM |
0.35 fM |
[59] |
a GNR, graphene–gold nanorod; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; Ap, aptamer; GA, glutaraldehyde; GCE, glassy carbon electrode; MSNPs, mesoporous silica nanoparticles; MWCNTs, multiwalled carbon nanotube; MSF, mesoporous silica thin film; APTES, (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane; AgNP, silver nanoparticles; CDs, carbon-dots; Chi-Py, pyrrole branched chitosan; PEG, polyethylene glycols; PANI, polyaniline. b AA, ascorbic acid; STR, streptomycin; miRNA; micro-RNA.
Techniques |
Physicochemical Characteristics Analyzed |
---|---|
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). |
This technique characterizes the functional groups, surface properties, structure, and conformation of hybrid nanomaterials and nanobioconjugates. |
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). |
Thermogravimetric analysis of nanohybrids determines their thermal stability by estimating organic and inorganic material extent. |
Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis). |
This technique can be used to estimate variables such as Km and Vmax in enzyme nanobioconjugates. |
Dynamic light scattering (DLS). |
This technique can estimate the hydrodynamic size distribution of nanostructures. |
Electrophoretic light scattering. |
The stability of nanomaterials is highly dependent on the surface charge, among other factors. |
X-ray diffraction (XRD). |
These techniques characterize hybrid nanomaterials’ size, shape, and crystalline structure. |
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). |
|
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). |
Imaging techniques study size, size distribution, aggregation, dispersion, heterogeneity, morphological characteristics, and compositional analysis of the hybrid nanomaterials and nanobioconjugates. |
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). |
|
Electrochemical techniques. |
Electrochemical techniques such as CV and EIS are used to evaluate electron transfer before, during, and after the bioreceptors attach to the surface of hybrid nanomaterials. They are also used to characterize the analytical properties of the resultant biosensors. |
The significant advance in developing nanobioengineered platforms for electrochemical biosensing has been remarkable in the last five years. However, new 2D and 3D nanomaterials emerge year by year with various improved properties ranging from quantum tunneling, excellent stability, and high conductivity and versatility, which provide new opportunities to develop electrochemical biosensors with high selectivity and extremely low LODs. Furthermore, the appearance of these novel nanostructured materials has led to the implementation of advanced and ultrasensitive biodetection tools (Table 3).
Biosensor |
Application a |
Nanobiohybrid: Nanomaterial and Biomolecules b |
Characterization c |
Analytical Performance (Linear Range and LOD) d |
Reference |
Immunosensor |
PSA |
Antibody/HP5@AuNPs@g-C3N4 bioconjugated with PSA-Ab2 |
CV, EIS, and DPV |
0.0005 to 0.00 ng/mL with LOD of 0.12 pg/mL |
[71] |
HER2 |
Ab/g-C3N4/AuNPs/Cu-MOF |
CV and EIS |
1.00 to 100.00 ng/mL with LOD of 3.00 fg/mL |
[72] |
|
AXL |
Ab/fGQDs |
XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, TEM, EIS, DPV |
1.7 to 1000 pg/mL with LOD of 0.5 pg/mL |
[73] |
|
CEA |
CdSe-QD-melamine and Ab1-TiO2-AuNP-ITO |
DPV |
0.005 - 1000 ng/mL with a LOD of 5 pg/mL |
[74] |
|
CA19-9 |
CeO2/FeOx@mC |
XPS, TEM, EIS, CV |
0.1 mU/mL to 10 U/mL with a LOD of 10 μU/mL |
[75] |
|
NMP-22 |
Co-MOFs/CuAu NWs/Ab |
SEM, XPS, CV, and chronoamperometry |
0.1 pg/mL to 1 ng/mL with a LOD of 33 fg/mL |
[76] |
|
Genosensor |
Zika |
Anti-Dig-HRP |
Chronoamperometry, CV, EIS |
5 to 300 pmol/L with LOD of 0.7 pM |
[77] |
Zika genes |
AuNPs/ssDNA |
SEM, CV, DPV, and chronoamperometry |
10 to 600 fM with LOD of 0.2 fM |
[78] |
|
CaMV35S gen |
Fe3O4-Au@Ag-sDNA on MWCNT/AuNPs/SH-sDNA |
TEM, XRD, UV-Vis, CV, and DPV |
1 ×10−16 M to 1 ×10−10 M with LOD of 1.26 × 10−17 M |
[79] |
|
mi-R21 |
3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate/ITO/PET/Fc-hybrid DNA hydrogel |
DPV |
10 nM to 50 μM with a LOD of 5 nM |
[80] |
|
miRNA-122 |
rGO/Au/DNA |
XRD, TEM, Raman, XPS, CV, and DPV |
10 μM to 10 pM with a LOD of 1.73 pM |
[81] |
|
OVA |
SiO2@Au/dsDNA/CeO2 |
DPV |
1 pg/mL to 1000 ng/mL with a LOD of 0.87 pg/mL |
[82] |
|
Enzymatic |
Glucose |
GOx/n-TiO2/PANI |
CV and chronoamperometry |
0.02 to 6.0 mM with LOD of 18 μM |
[83] |
Glucose |
Cu-nanoflowers-Gox-HRP/AuNPs-GO-PVA nanofibers |
UV-Vis, SEM, TEM, XDR, CV, and chronoamperometry |
0.001 to 0.1 mM with a LOD of 0.018 μM |
[84] |
|
Organophosphate pesticides |
acetylcholinesterase/chitosan-transition metals/graphene/GCE |
SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD, CV, DPV and EIS |
11.31 μM to 22.6 nM with LOD of 14.45 nM |
[85] |
|
β-hydroxybutyric acid |
Ti3C2Tx nanosheets conjugated with β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase |
SEM, CV, and chronoamperometry |
0.36 to 17.9 mM with a LOD of 45 μM |
[86] |
|
Based on peptides |
norovirus |
Cys/peptide/gold layer |
CV and EIS |
The LOD was 99.8 nM and 7.8 copies/mL for rP2 and human norovirus, respectively. |
[87] |
PSA |
MXene-Au-MB nanohybrid/peptide |
DPV |
5 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL with a LOD of 0.83 pg/mL |
[88] |
|
PKA and CK2 |
Peptide/MSF/ITO |
Chronoamperometry |
The LODs were 0.083 and 0.095 U/mL, for PKA and CK2, respectively |
[89] |
|
NHE |
Cys -PEG-QRRMIEEPA-MB |
DPV and SWV |
10 and 150 nM with a LOD of 250 pM |
[90] |
|
Based on glycoproteins |
Toxoplasma gondii |
Ab glycosylphosphatidylinositol/SPAuE |
CV, EIS |
1.0 to 10.0 IU/mL, with a LOD of 0.31 IU/mL |
[91] |
MIPs/glycoproteins |
Fc/MPBA/AuNPs-SiO2 nanobioconjugate |
FTIR, CV, EIS, DPV, and chronoamperometry |
1 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL and reached a LOD of 0.57 pg/mL |
[92] |
|
Based on aptamers |
tumor exosomes extracted from lymph node carcinoma of a prostate cells line |
MNPs/aptamer-DNA/double-stranded DNA/GCE |
DPV |
The LOD was 70 particles/μL |
[93] |
miRNA |
DSN/AuNPS/HRP |
CV, EIS and chronoamperometry |
The LOD was 43.3 aM |
[94] |
|
CA125 and living MCF-7 cells |
Tb-MOF-on-Fe-MOF |
SEM, TEM, XPS, CV, and EIS |
100 μU/mL to 200 U/mL with a LOD of 58 μU/mL towards CA125. Moreover, biosensor detecting MCF-7 cells with a LOD of 19 cells/mL |
[95] |
|
CEA and NSE |
Paper-electrode functionalized with amino-modified graphene-Thi-AuNPs and PB-PEDOT |
DPV |
0.01 to 500 ng/mL for CEA and 0.05 - 500 ng/mL for NSE with a LOD of 2 pg/mL for CEA and 10 pg/mL for NSE, respectively |
[96] |
|
Other types of biosensors (based on cells or mimicking biosensors) |
Impedimetric biosensor/Escherichia coli B. |
CNT/PEI-T2 virus/GCE |
EIS |
103 to 107 CFU/mL with LOD of 1.5 × 103 CFU/mL |
[97] |
Nonenzymatic biosensor/glucose |
GS/GNR/Ni |
Chronoamperometry |
5 nM to 5 mM with a LOD of 2.5 nM. |
[98] |
|
Mimicking biosensor/H2O2 released from H9C2 cardiac cells |
AuNFs/Fe3O4@ZIF-8-MoS2 |
SEM, fluorescence, CV, EIS, and chronoamperometry |
5 μM - 120 mM and a LOD of 0.9 μM |
[99] |
|
Electrochemical/glucose |
CuOx@Co3O4 core-shell nanowires/ZIF-67 |
SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, CV, and chronoamperometry |
0.1 to 1300.0 μM with a LOD of 36 nM |
[100] |
|
Mimicking/L-tyrosinase |
UT-g-C3N4/Ag hybrids |
TEM, XPS, XRD, AFM, EIS, CV, and DPV |
1.00× 10−6 to 1.50 × 10−4 mol/L with a LOD of 1.40 × 10−7 mol/L |
[101] |
|
Biomimetic biosensor/glucose |
Fe3O4@PNE-GOx |
Chronoamperometry |
0.24 to 24 mM with a LOD of 6.1 µM |
[102] |
|
PAD/creatinine |
CuO/IL/ERGO/SPCE |
Chronoamperometry |
0.01 to 2.0 mM and a LOD of 0.22 μM |
[103] |
|
3D paper-based microfluidic electrochemical biosensor/glucose
|
rGO-TEPA/PB |
SEM, Raman, CV, and chronoamperometry |
0.1 mM - 25 mM with a LOD of 25 μM |
[104] |
aPSA, prostate-specific antigen; HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; AXL, tyrosine kinase; CaMV35S, cauliflower mosaic virus 35S; SAMs, self-assembled monolayers; MIPs, molecular imprinted polymers; miRNA, micro-ribonucleic acid; CA19-9, carbohydrate antigen 19-9; CA125, carbohydrate antigen 125; NMP-22, nuclear matrix protein-22; PKA, protein kinase A; CK2, casein kinase II; PAD, paper-based analytical devices; OVA, ovalbumin; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; NHE, human neutrophil elastase; NSE, neuron-specific enolase.
bHP5, hydroxylpillar[5]arene; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; Ab, antibody; Gox, glucose oxidase; PANI, polyaniline; Cys, cysteine; MOFs, metal-organic framework; fGQDs, functionalized graphene quantum dots; anti-Dig-HRP, antibody-digoxigenin-horseradish peroxidase; ssDNA, single-strand DNA; MWCNT, multiwalled carbon nanotube; CNT, carbon nanotube; PEI, polyethyleneimine; GCE, glassy carbon electrode; SPAuE, screen-printed gold electrode; MNPs, metallic nanoparticles; Fc, ferrocene; MPBA, 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid; QD, quantum dots; ITO, indium tin oxide; DSN, duplex-specific nuclease; PET, polyethylene terephthalate; GO, graphene oxide; PVA, poly(vinyl alcohol); GS, graphene sheet; GNR, graphene-gold nanorod; rGO, reduced graphene oxide; UT, ultrathin; PEG, polyethylene glycol; MB, methylene blue; THI, electron-mediating thionin; PB, Prussian blue; PEDOT, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), SPCE, screen-printed carbon electrode; MSF, mesoporous silica thin film; PNE, polynorepinephrine; IL, ionic liquid; ERGO, electrochemically reduced graphene.
cCV, cyclic voltammetry; EIS, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; DPV, differential pulse voltammetry; XRD, X-ray diffraction; XPS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; FTIR, infrared spectroscopy; UV-Vis, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy; SEM, scanning electron microscopy; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; SWV, square wave voltammetry.
dLOD, limit of detection.
Biosensor technology based on nanobiohybrid materials represents a vast field that significantly impacts healthcare, the environment, and food quality control. These functional platforms promote target molecule detection with high specificity and sensitivity, particularly in the biomedical field [105][106][107][108][71][109]. Furthermore, the rational design of the nanobiohybrids has been demonstrated to enhance the response and long-term stability of the resultant devices due to the incorporation of nanomaterials with improved properties that promote a favorable nanoenvironment for bioreceptors anchoring. Besides, the versatility of nanomaterials facilitates the conjugation with molecules by multiple conjugation chemistry, opening options to detect numerous target molecules.
Electrochemical-based nanohybrid biosensors have the potential to solve most of the limitations and concerns of bioanalysis and diagnostic tests while maintaining the required sensitivity, selectivity, and LOD to face real needs. Besides, integrating sample preparation into the device allows the possibility of direct analysis within a sample matrix and offers opportunities for new strategies of long-term analysis in vivo, among many other exciting applications. Electrochemical nanohybrid biosensors are particularly suitable for miniaturization and integration in microfluidic devices, thus reducing the consumption of reagents and samples {Formatting Citation}. Applications include detecting whole cells, cell components, proteins, and small molecules to address diagnostics and food and environmental control tasks online and in real-time, but still require more sophisticated platforms with additional elements, such as sample preparation. Although nanobioengineered biosensors are an affordable analytical strategy relative to gold standard detection methods, the development of large-scale electrochemical nanobiosensors is still challenging because they require state-of-the-art technologies for their production in a reproducible and stable manner, directly influencing the cost of the sensing device [109][110]. This apparent drawback could be overcome by scaling, automation, and mass manufacturing to lower costs through advanced methods in elaborating cost-affordable and disposable electrochemical nanobiosensors based on additive manufacturing, including screen inkjet 3D printing or microfabrication technologies [111][110][112][113].
Overall, this review exemplified nanobiosensors mainly based on screen-printed electrodes modified with nanohybrids conjugated with highly specific bioreceptors for enhanced biosensing. Yet, the richness in the art of biosensors deserves deeper exploration and support of exciting new ideas. Overall, nanobiohybrids are paving the way in the pioneering development of highly sensitive and selective electrochemical nanobiosensors and represent remarkable research advances that are a step forward in increasing the impact of this exciting, cutting-edge technology in the field of biomarker detection of clinical interest [110].
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/molecules27123841