Elsevier

Biotechnology Advances

Volume 22, Issue 7, September 2004, Pages 505-518
Biotechnology Advances

Research review paper
Nanotechnology and biosensors

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2004.03.004Get rights and content

Abstract

Nanotechnology is playing an increasingly important role in the development of biosensors. 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 work reviews the status of the various nanostructure-based biosensors. Use of the self-assembly techniques and nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) in biosensors is discussed.

Introduction

Nanotechnology involves the study, manipulation, creation and use of materials, devices and systems typically with dimensions smaller than 100 nm. Nanotechnology is playing an increasingly important role in the development of biosensors Vo-Dinh et al., 2001, Haruyama, 2003, Jain, 2003. Sensitivity and other attributes of biosensors can be improved by using nanomaterials in their construction. Nanomaterials, or matrices with at least one of their 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.

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 vivo. Here we review the major aspects of the nanotechnology-based biosensors.

Section snippets

Nanostructures

Novel nanomaterials for use in bioassay applications represent a rapidly advancing field. Various nanostructures have been investigated to determine their properties and possible applications in biosensors. These structures include nanotubes, nanofibers, nanorods, nanoparticles and thin films. Of these, nanoparticles are the best studied. The biosensors based on different kinds of nanostructures are discussed in this review.

Conclusions

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the development of biosensors. Nanomaterials and nanofabrication technologies are increasingly being used to design novel biosensors. Unfortunately, little attention is being given to the study of the various nanoeffects (e.g. quantum size effect, mini size effect, surface effect, macro-quantum tunnel effect) that are unique to nanomaterials and are actually their most attractive aspect.

New nanomaterials and nanostructures need to be explored for use in

Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work funded by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant No. M203106.

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