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Elli G, Ciocca M, Shkodra B, Petrelli M, Costa Angeli MA, Altana A, Carzino R, Fragouli D, Petti L, Lugli P. Electrolyte-Gated Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistor-Based Sensors for Nanoplastics Detection in Seawater: A Study of the Interaction between Nanoplastics and Carbon Nanotubes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:38768-38779. [PMID: 38996179 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c07692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Plastics accumulating in the environment are nowadays of great concern for aquatic systems and for the living organisms populating them. In this context, nanoplastics (NPs) are considered the major and most dangerous contaminants because of their small size and active surface, which allow them to interact with a variety of other molecules. Current methods used for the detection of NPs rely on bulky and expensive techniques such as spectroscopy. Here we propose, for the first time, a novel, fast, and easy-to-use sensor based on an electrolyte-gated field-effect transistor (EG-FET) with a carbon nanotube (CNT) semiconductor (EG-CNTFET) for the detection of NPs in aquatic environments, using polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) as a model material. In particular, as a working mechanism for the EG-CNTFETs we exploited the ability of CNTs and PS to form noncovalent interactions. Indeed, in our EG-CNTFET devices, the interaction between NPs and CNTs caused a change in the electric double layers. A linear increase in the corrected on current (*ION) of the EG-CNTFETs, with a sensitivity of 9.68 μA/(1 mg/mL) and a linear range of detection from 0.025 to 0.25 mg/mL were observed. A π-π interaction was hypothesized to take place between the two materials, as indicated by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Using artificial seawater as an electrolyte, to mimic a real-case scenario, a linear increase in *ION was also observed, with a sensitivity of 6.19 μA/(1 mg/mL), proving the possibility to use the developed sensor in more complex solutions, as well as in low concentrations. This study offers a starting point for future exploitation of electrochemical sensors for NP detection and identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Elli
- Sensing Technologies Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Domenicani 3, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Manuela Ciocca
- Sensing Technologies Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Domenicani 3, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Bajramshahe Shkodra
- Sensing Technologies Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Domenicani 3, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Mattia Petrelli
- Sensing Technologies Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Domenicani 3, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Martina Aurora Costa Angeli
- Sensing Technologies Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Domenicani 3, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Antonio Altana
- Competence Center for Mountain Innovation Ecosystems, Piazzetta Franz Innerhofer 8, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Carzino
- Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Despina Fragouli
- Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Luisa Petti
- Sensing Technologies Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Domenicani 3, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Paolo Lugli
- Sensing Technologies Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Domenicani 3, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Competence Center for Mountain Innovation Ecosystems, Piazzetta Franz Innerhofer 8, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
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Tovar-Lopez FJ. Recent Progress in Micro- and Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors for Biomedical and Environmental Challenges. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:5406. [PMID: 37420577 DOI: 10.3390/s23125406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Micro- and nanotechnology-enabled sensors have made remarkable advancements in the fields of biomedicine and the environment, enabling the sensitive and selective detection and quantification of diverse analytes. In biomedicine, these sensors have facilitated disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and point-of-care devices. In environmental monitoring, they have played a crucial role in assessing air, water, and soil quality, as well as ensured food safety. Despite notable progress, numerous challenges persist. This review article addresses recent developments in micro- and nanotechnology-enabled sensors for biomedical and environmental challenges, focusing on enhancing basic sensing techniques through micro/nanotechnology. Additionally, it explores the applications of these sensors in addressing current challenges in both biomedical and environmental domains. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for further research to expand the detection capabilities of sensors/devices, enhance sensitivity and selectivity, integrate wireless communication and energy-harvesting technologies, and optimize sample preparation, material selection, and automated components for sensor design, fabrication, and characterization.
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Gongi W, Rube M, Ben Ouada H, Ben Ouada H, Tamarin O, Dejous C. Elaboration and Characterization of a New Heavy Metal Sensor Functionalized by Extracellular Polymeric Substances Isolated from a Tunisian Thermophilic Microalga Strain Graesiella sp. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:s23020803. [PMID: 36679600 PMCID: PMC9862826 DOI: 10.3390/s23020803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to develop and characterize new heavy metal sensors functionalized by extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) isolated from a Tunisian thermophilic microalga strain Graesiella sp. The elaborated sensor showed a highly homogeneous character and revealed a microstructural lamellar arrangement, high crystalline nature, and several functional groups. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and acoustic wave sensing were used as sensing techniques to explore the ability of microalgae-EPS-functionalized sensors to detect cadmium and mercury as heavy metals. For impedimetric measurements, a two-dipole circuit was adopted and showed good-fitted results with a low total error. The acoustic sensor platforms showed good compatibility with EPS in adjacent water. For both EPS-functionalized sensors, metal ions (Cd2+, Hg2+) were successfully detected in the concentration range from 10-10 M to 10-4 M. Impedimetric sensor was more sensitive to Cd2+ at low concentrations before saturation at 10-7 M, while the acoustic sensor exhibited more sensitivity to Hg2+ over the full range. The results highlight a new potential alternative to use microalgae EPSs as a sensitive coating material for the detection of heavy metals. However, its use in a real liquid medium requires further investigation of its selectivity in the presence of other compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wejdene Gongi
- UMR 228 Espace-Dev, University of French Guiana, F-97300 Cayenne, France
- Laboratory of Blue Biotechnology & Aquatic Bioproducts, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
- Correspondence:
| | - Maxence Rube
- UMR 228 Espace-Dev, University of French Guiana, F-97300 Cayenne, France
| | - Hafedh Ben Ouada
- Laboratoire des Interfaces et Matériaux Avancés, Faculté des Sciences de Monastir, Monastir University, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
| | - Hatem Ben Ouada
- Laboratory of Blue Biotechnology & Aquatic Bioproducts, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
| | - Ollivier Tamarin
- UMR 228 Espace-Dev, University of French Guiana, F-97300 Cayenne, France
- IMS, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, UMR 5218, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - Corinne Dejous
- IMS, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, UMR 5218, F-33405 Talence, France
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