Nanomaterials for Healthcare Biosensing Applications

In recent years, an increasing number of nanomaterials have been explored for their applications in biomedical diagnostics, making their applications in healthcare biosensing a rapidly evolving field. Nanomaterials introduce versatility to the sensing platforms and may even allow mobility between different detection mechanisms. The prospect of a combination of different nanomaterials allows an exploitation of their synergistic additive and novel properties for sensor development. This paper covers more than 290 research works since 2015, elaborating the diverse roles played by various nanomaterials in the biosensing field. Hence, we provide a comprehensive review of the healthcare sensing applications of nanomaterials, covering carbon allotrope-based, inorganic, and organic nanomaterials. These sensing systems are able to detect a wide variety of clinically relevant molecules, like nucleic acids, viruses, bacteria, cancer antigens, pharmaceuticals and narcotic drugs, toxins, contaminants, as well as entire cells in various sensing media, ranging from buffers to more complex environments such as urine, blood or sputum. Thus, the latest advancements reviewed in this paper hold tremendous potential for the application of nanomaterials in the early screening of diseases and point-of-care testing

Recent Progress in Optical Sensors for Biomedical Diagnostics

In recent years, several types of optical sensors have been probed for their aptitude in healthcare biosensing, making their applications in biomedical diagnostics a rapidly evolving subject. Optical sensors show versatility amongst different receptor types and even permit the integration of different detection mechanisms. Such conjugated sensing platforms facilitate the exploitation of their neoteric synergistic characteristics for sensor fabrication. This paper covers nearly 250 research articles since 2016 representing the emerging interest in rapid, reproducible and ultrasensitive assays in clinical analysis. Therefore, we present an elaborate review of biomedical diagnostics with the help of optical sensors working on varied principles such as surface plasmon resonance, localised surface plasmon resonance, evanescent wave fluorescence, bioluminescence and several others. These sensors are capable of investigating toxins, proteins, pathogens, disease biomarkers and whole cells in varied sensing media ranging from water to buffer to more complex environments such as serum, blood or urine. Hence, the recent trends discussed in this review hold enormous potential for the widespread use of optical sensors in early-stage disease prediction and point-of-care testing devices.DFG, 428780268, Biomimetische Rezeptoren auf NanoMIP-Basis zur Virenerkennung und -entfernung mittels integrierter Ansätz

Protein detection using hydrogel-based molecularly imprinted polymers integrated with dual polarisation interferometry

A polyacrylamide-based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared for bovine haemoglobin (BHb). A 3 mg/ml solution of BHb was injected over a dual polarisation interferometer (DPI) sensor to form a physisorbed layer typically of 3.5 ± 0.5 nm thickness. Onto the pre-adsorbed protein layer, MIP and NIP (non-imprinted polymer) were separately injected to monitor the interaction of BHb MIP or NIP particles under different loading conditions with the pre-adsorbed protein layer. In the case of NIP flowing of the protein layer, there was negligible surface stripping of the pre-adsorbed protein. When a protein-eluted sample of MIP particles was flowed over a pre-adsorbed protein layer on the sensor chip, the sensor detected significant decreases in both layer thickness and mass, suggestive that protein was being selectively bound to MIP after being stripped-off from the sensor surface. We also integrated thin-film MIPS for BHb and BSA onto the DPI sensor surface and were able to show that whereas BHb bound selectively and strongly to the BHb MIP thin film (resulting in a sustained increase in thickness and mass), the BHb protein only demonstrated transient and reversible binding on the BSA MIP. MIPs were also tested after biofouling with plasma or serum at various dilutions. We found that serum at 1/100 dilution allowed the MIP to still function selectively. This is the first demonstration of MIPs being integrated with DPI in the development of synthetic receptor-based optical protein sensors. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Molecular Imprinted Polymers Coupled to Photonic Structures in Biosensors: The State of Art

Optical sensing, taking advantage of the variety of available optical structures, is a rapidly expanding area. Over recent years, whispering gallery mode resonators, photonic crystals, optical waveguides, optical fibers and surface plasmon resonance have been exploited to devise different optical sensing configurations. In the present review, we report on the state of the art of optical sensing devices based on the aforementioned optical structures and on synthetic receptors prepared by means of the molecular imprinting technology. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are polymeric receptors, cheap and robust, with high affinity and selectivity, prepared by a template assisted synthesis. The state of the art of the MIP functionalized optical structures is critically discussed, highlighting the key progresses that enabled the achievement of improved sensing performances, the merits and the limits both in MIP synthetic strategies and in MIP coupling

Novel Optical Chemical Sensor Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Inside a Trench Micro-machined in Double Plastic Optical Fiber☆

Abstract For the detection of chemical agents in different environments, the combination of plastic optical fibers (POFs) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layers has been tested as a way to obtain a low cost, highly selective and sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) chemical sensor. A novel type of optical chemical sensor based on POF-MIP has been designed and fabricated, and in this work it has been applied for the selective detection of dibenzyl disulfide (DBDS) in transformer oil. This analyte is important in the control of transformer oil, since it is responsible for the corrosive properties of the oil. The new optical sensor platform is based on two plastic optical fibers coupled through a polymer molecularly imprinted for DBDS. The new sensor has been found to be useful for the determination of DBDS in transformer oil

Molecularly Imprinted Sensors — New Sensing Technologies

In this chapter we discus molecular imprinting technology (MIT), molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs), and their compatibility on a proper transducer to construct a sensing system. Molecularly imprinted sensors (MISens), in other words, artificial receptor-based sensors synthesized in the presence of the target molecule, are capable of sensing target molecules by using their specific cavities and are compatible with the target molecule. This MIP technology is a viable alternative of artificial receptor technology, and the sensor technology is capable of detecting any kind of molecule without pre-analytic preparations. In this chapter, you can find examples, sensor construction techniques and fundamentals of MIP and sensor combinations to look forward in your studies. For sensor technology, we explained and discussed the new sensing technologies of MIP-based electrochemical, optical (especially surface plasmon resonance, SPR), and piezoelectric techniques. Therefore, this chapter presents a short guideline of MISens

Surface plasmon resonance based fibre-optic chemical sensor for the detection of cocaine

A surface plasmon based fibre-optic chemical sensor for the detection of cocaine has been developed using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film with embedded gold nanoparticles as the recognition element. The MIP was formed on the layer of gold thin film which was deposited on the surface of a fibre core. The sensing was based on swelling of the MIP film induced by analyte binding that shifted the resonance spectrum toward a shorter wavelength. The sensor exhibited a response to cocaine in the concentration range of 0 - 400 μM in aqueous acetonitrile mixtures. Selectivity for cocaine over other drugs has also been demonstrated. © (2016) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

Molecular Imprinting Applications in Forensic Science.

Producing molecular imprinting-based materials has received increasing attention due to recognition selectivity, stability, cast effectiveness, and ease of production in various forms for a wide range of applications. The molecular imprinting technique has a variety of applications in the areas of the food industry, environmental monitoring, and medicine for diverse purposes like sample pretreatment, sensing, and separation/purification. A versatile usage, stability and recognition capabilities also make them perfect candidates for use in forensic sciences. Forensic science is a demanding area and there is a growing interest in molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in this field. In this review, recent molecular imprinting applications in the related areas of forensic sciences are discussed while considering the literature of last two decades. Not only direct forensic applications but also studies of possible forensic value were taken into account like illicit drugs, banned sport drugs, effective toxins and chemical warfare agents in a review of over 100 articles. The literature was classified according to targets, material shapes, production strategies, detection method, and instrumentation. We aimed to summarize the current applications of MIPs in forensic science and put forth a projection of their potential uses as promising alternatives for benchmark competitors

Design of nano- and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have attracted considerable attention for use as smart materials, such as in molecular sensors and drug delivery systems. With a focus on their crosslinking density, we have prepared various molecule-responsive hydrogels that undergo volume changes in response to target molecules based on the association/dissociation of molecular complexes that act as crosslinkers. Recent developments in polymerization techniques enabled us to design various types of polymer nanomaterials. This focus review provides a short overview of our recent studies on thenano- and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels prepared using various polymerization techniques, such as photopolymerization, surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, andsoap-free emulsion polymerization. The nano- and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels showed not only rapid swelling/shrinkage in response to a target molecule owing to their large surface area but also smart functions, such as autonomous molecule-responsive microchannel flowregulation and highly sensitive detection of a target molecule. The smart functions of nano- and micro-structured molecule-responsive hydrogels can provide tools for constructing, for example, sensors, microdevices and smart biomaterials.This work was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI grant number 15K17912from MEXT Japan, the Kansai University Subsidy for Supporting YoungScholars, 2013, and the Kao Foundation for Arts and Sciences, 2015