Kohlenstoffnanomaterialien für Biosensoren: Nanoröhren oder Graphen - was eignet sich besser?

Fabrication and Functionalisation of Nanocarbon-Based Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors

Nanocarbon-based field-effect transistor (NC-FET) biosensors are at the forefront of future diagnostic technology. By integrating biological molecules with electrically conducting carbon-based platforms, high sensitivity real-time multiplexed sensing is possible. Combined with their small footprint, portability, ease of use, and label-free sensing mechanisms, NC-FETs are prime candidates for the rapidly expanding areas of point-of-care testing, environmental monitoring and biosensing as a whole. In this review we provide an overview of the basic operational mechanisms behind NC-FETs, synthesis and fabrication of FET devices, and developments in functionalisation strategies for biosensing applications.

Iron Precatalysts with Bulky Tri(tert-butyl)cyclopentadienyl Ligands for the Dehydrocoupling of Dimethylamine-Borane

In an attempt to prepare new Fe catalysts for the dehydrocoupling of amine-boranes and to provide mechanistic insight, the paramagnetic Fe^II dimeric complex [Cp'FeI]₂ (1) (Cp'=η⁵ -((1,2,4-tBu)₃ C₅ H₂ )) was used as a precursor to a series of cyclopentadienyl Fe^II and Fe^III mononuclear species. The complexes prepared were [Cp'Fe(η⁶ -Tol)][Cp'FeI₂ ] (2) (Tol=C₆ H₅ Me), [Cp'Fe(η⁶ -Tol)][BAr^F₄ ] (3) (BAr^F₄ =[B(C₆ H₃ (m-CF₃ )₂ )₄ ]^- ), [N(nBu)₄ ][Cp'FeI₂ ] (4), Cp'FeI₂ (5), and [Cp'Fe(MeCN)₃ ][BAr^F₄ ] (6). The electronic structure of the [Cp'FeI₂ ]^- anion in 2 and 4 was investigated by SQUID magnetometry, EPR spectroscopy and ab initio Complete Active Space Self Consistent Field-Spin Orbit (CASSCF-SO) calculations, and the studies revealed a strongly anisotropic S=2 ground state. Complexes 1-6 were investigated as catalysts for the dehydrocoupling of Me₂ NH⋅BH₃ (I) in THF at 20 °C to yield the cyclodiborazane product [Me₂ N-BH₂ ]₂ (IV). Complexes 1-4 and 6 were active dehydrocoupling catalysts towards I (5 mol % loading), however 5 was inactive, and ultra-violet (UV) irradiation was required for the reaction mediated by 3. Complex 6 was found to be the most active precatalyst, reaching 80 % conversion to IV after 19 h at 22 °C. Dehydrocoupling of I by 1-4 proceeded via formation of the aminoborane Me₂ N=BH₂ (II) as the major intermediate, whereas for 6 the linear diborazane Me₂ NH-BH₂ -NMe₂ -BH₃ (III) could be detected, together with trace amounts of II. Reactions of 1 and 6 with Me₃ N⋅BH₃ were investigated in an attempt to identify Fe-based intermediates in the catalytic reactions. The σ-complex [Cp'Fe(MeCN)(κ² -H₂ BH⋅NMe₂ H][BAr^F₄ ] was proposed to initially form in dehydrocoupling reactions involving 6 based on ESI-MS (ESI=Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectroscopy) and NMR spectroscopic evidence. The latter also suggests that these complexes function as precursors to iron hydrides which may be the true catalytic species.

Real-Time Cellular Cytochrome C Monitoring through an Optical Microfiber: Enabled by a Silver-Decorated Graphene Nanointerface

The translocation of cytochrome c (cyt c) from mitochondria and out of cell is an important signal of cell apoptosis. Monitoring this process extracellularly without invasion and cytotoxicity to cells is of great importance to understand certain diseases at the cellular level; however, it requires sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity and miniature size. This study reports an optical microfiber aptasensor with a silver-decorated graphene (Ag@RGO) nanointerface for real-time cellular cyt c monitoring. Owing to an interfacial sensitization effect coupled with the plasmonic electromagnetic enhancement of silver nanoparticles and chemical enhancement of graphene platforms, which enhances the energy density on microfiber surface obviously, the lowest limit of detection achieved is 6.82 × 10-17 m, which is approximately five orders of magnitude lower than those of existing methods. This microfiber successfully detects the ultralow concentrations of cyt c present during the initial stage of apoptosis in situ. As the microfiber functionalized by Ag@RGO nanointerface can be varied to meet any specific detection objective, this work opens up new opportunities to quantitatively monitor biological functions occurring at the cellular level.

Polyvalent Spherical Nucleic Acids for Universal Display of Functional DNA with Ultrahigh Stability

For nanomaterials that are difficult to functionalize by covalent attachment of DNA, we herein communicate a general method taking advantage of the high avidity of polyvalent binding and the 3D structure of densely functionalized spherical nucleic acids (SNAs). Using DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles, simple mixing leads to the formation of highly stable conjugates on 11 different materials including metals, metal oxides, metal-organic frameworks, transition-metal dichalcogenides, nanocarbons, and polymers. The adsorption affinity of SNAs can be over thousand-fold higher than that of free DNA of the same sequence, and practically irreversible conjugates are formed withstanding various denaturing agents. The surface attachment and molecular recognition functions of DNA are spatially separated, showing a key advantage of SNAs. The functionalized materials possess the properties of both the substrate and the SNA, allowing specific DNA hybridization in buffer and in serum.

One-pot synthesis of dendritic Pt3Ni nanoalloys as nonenzymatic electrochemical biosensors with high sensitivity and selectivity for dopamine detection

Preparation of Pt-based nanocatalysts with high catalytic activity and exploration of their novel applications have attracted significant interest in the nanoscale field. Herein, we report a facile synthesis of dendritic Pt₃Ni nanoalloys and their applications for electrochemical nonenzymatic dopamine biosensors. As a result of their unique structure, the dendritic Pt₃Ni nanoalloys show high electrocatalytic activity towards dopamine oxidation. Amperometric dopamine biosensors based on dendritic Pt₃Ni nanoalloy microelectrode exhibit a wide linear detection ranges from 0.5 μM to 250 μM with ultrahigh sensitivity, fast response, and excellent selectivity at a potential of 0.3 V in a 0.1 M phosphate buffered solution (pH = 7.2). The limit of detection on dendritic Pt₃Ni nanoalloy microelectrodes can decrease down to 10 nM, which is the least concentration of dopamine in serum samples with a value of sensitivity up to 4.6 μA mg^-1_Pt cm^-2. This study shows an effective approach for the development of dendritic Pt₃Ni nanoalloys as electrocatalysts for electrochemical nonenzymatic dopamine biosensors.

Nanowire Chemical/Biological Sensors: Status and a Roadmap for the Future

Chemiresistive sensors are becoming increasingly important as they offer an inexpensive option to conventional analytical instrumentation, they can be readily integrated into electronic devices, and they have low power requirements. Nanowires (NWs) are a major theme in chemosensor development. High surface area, interwire junctions, and restricted conduction pathways give intrinsically high sensitivity and new mechanisms to transduce the binding or action of analytes. This Review details the status of NW chemosensors with selected examples from the literature. We begin by proposing a principle for understanding electrical transport and transduction mechanisms in NW sensors. Next, we offer the reader a review of device performance parameters. Then, we consider the different NW types followed by a summary of NW assembly and different device platform architectures. Subsequently, we discuss NW functionalization strategies. Finally, we propose future developments in NW sensing to address selectivity, sensor drift, sensitivity, response analysis, and emerging applications.

Highly transparent and stretchable field-effect transistor sensors using graphene-nanowire hybrid nanostructures

Transparent and stretchable electronics with remarkable bendability, conformability, and lightness are the key attributes for sensing or wearable devices. Transparent and stretchable field-effect transistor sensors using graphene-metal nanowire hybrid nanostructures have high mobility (≈3000 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) ) with low contact resistance, and they are transferrable onto a variety of substrates. The integration of these sensors for RLC circuits enables wireless monitoring.

Recent advances in graphene/polyamide 6 composites: a review

This paper reviews recent years’ (2009–2015) advances in graphene/PA6 nanocomposites for the first time.

Harnessing the liquid-phase exfoliation of graphene using aliphatic compounds: a supramolecular approach

The technological exploitation of the extraordinary properties of graphene relies on the ability to achieve full control over the production of a high-quality material and its processing by up-scalable approaches in order to fabricate large-area films with single-layer or a few atomic-layer thickness, which might be integrated in working devices. A simple method is reported for producing homogenous dispersions of unfunctionalized and non-oxidized graphene nanosheets in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) by using simple molecular modules, which act as dispersion-stabilizing compounds during the liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) process, leading to an increase in the concentration of graphene in dispersions. The LPE-processed graphene dispersion was shown to be a conductive ink. This approach opens up new avenues for the technological applications of this graphene ink as low-cost electrodes and conducting nanocomposite for electronics.

Point decoration of silicon nanowires: an approach toward single-molecule electrical detection

Probing interactions of biological systems at the molecular level is of great importance to fundamental biology, diagnosis, and drug discovery. A rational bioassay design of lithographically integrating individual point scattering sites into electrical circuits is capable of realizing real-time, label-free biodetection of influenza H1N1 viruses with single-molecule sensitivity and high selectivity by using silicon nanowires as local reporters in combination with microfluidics. This nanocircuit-based architecture is complementary to more conventional optical techniques, but has the advantages of no bleaching problems and no fluorescent labeling. These advantages offer a promising platform for exploring dynamics of stochastic processes in biological systems and gaining information from genomics to proteomics to improve accurate molecular and even point-of-care clinical diagnosis.

Graphene oxide protected nucleic acid probes for bioanalysis and biomedicine

Recently, the binding ability of DNA on GO and resulting nuclease resistance have attracted increasing attention, leading to new applications both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, nucleic acids absorbed on GO can be effectively protected from enzymatic degradation and biological interference in complicated samples, making it useful for targeted delivery, gene regulation, intracellular detection and imaging with high uptake efficiencies, high intracellular stability, and very low toxicity. In vitro, the adsorption of ssDNA on GO surface and desorption of dsDNA or well-folded ssDNA from GO surface result in the protection and deprotection of DNA from nucleic digestion, respectively, which has led to target-triggered cyclic enzymatic amplification methods (CEAM) for amplified detection of analytes with sensitivity 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that of 1:1 binding strategies. This Concept article explores some of the latest developments in this field.

Graphitic carbon-nanoparticle-based single-label nanobeacons

Shining a nanobeacon: Single-label nanobeacon sensors were constructed by using graphitic carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and their oxides as energy acceptors (see figure; FRET=fluorescence resonance energy transfer). Excellent sensing performances were achieved with simplified operation and lowered cost.

Electrochemistry: an efficient way to chemically modify individual monolayers of graphene

Fast and efficient surface functionalization of graphene is achieved by the electrochemical formation of aryl radicals from diazonium salts under mild conditions. Precise control of the ratio of electron-deficient nitro groups to electron-rich amino groups is also demostrated, potentially resulting in the controllable tuning of the electrical properties of graphenes.

Nanoporous carbon materials for electrochemical sensing

Nanoporous carbon materials are highly important materials for a wide array of applications. Here we show that nanoporous carbon can act as highly active materials for electrochemical sensing. We observed that nanoporous carbon material exhibits a faster heterogeneous electron transfer than graphite and pure carbon nanotubes. Nanoporous carbon exhibits a superior electrochemical performance for sensing of important biomarkers such as dopamine, ascorbic acid, uric acid, NADH, DNA bases, and forensic-related compounds such as nitroaromatic explosives.