Fluorescent biosensors enabled by graphene and graphene oxide

Biomedical applications of graphene-based nanomaterials: recent progress, challenges, and prospects in highly sensitive biosensors

Graphene-based nanomaterials (graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots, graphene-based nanocomposites, etc.) are emerging as an extremely important class of nanomaterials primarily because of their unique and advantageous physical, chemical, biological, and optoelectronic aspects. These features have resulted in uses across diverse areas of scientific research. Among all other applications, they are found to be particularly useful in designing highly sensitive biosensors. Numerous studies have established their efficacy in sensing pathogens and other biomolecules allowing for the rapid diagnosis of various diseases. Considering the growing importance and popularity of graphene-based materials for biosensing applications, this review aims to provide the readers with a summary of the recent progress in the concerned domain and highlights the challenges associated with the synthesis and application of these multifunctional materials.

Magneto-optical nanosystems for tumor multimodal imaging and therapy in-vivo

Multimodal imaging, which combines the strengths of two or more imaging modalities to provide complementary anatomical and molecular information, has emerged as a robust technology for enhancing diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy, as well as improving treatment monitoring. Moreover, the application of multimodal imaging in guiding precision tumor treatment can prevent under- or over-treatment, thereby maximizing the benefits for tumor patients. In recent years, several intriguing magneto-optical nanosystems with both magnetic and optical properties have been developed, leading to significant breakthroughs in the field of multimodal imaging and image-guided tumor therapy. These advancements pave the way for precise tumor medicine. This review summarizes various types of magneto-optical nanosystems developed recently and describes their applications as probes for multimodal imaging and agents for image-guided therapeutic interventions. Finally, future research and development prospects of magneto-optical nanosystems are discussed along with an outlook on their further applications in the biomedical field.

Quencher-free fluorescent assays by controlled DNA partitioning in the aqueous two-phase system with crowding-enhanced kinetics

Fluorescent DNA assays are promising in disease diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and drug screening, encompassing both heterogeneous and homogeneous assay types. Nevertheless, heterogeneous assays suffer from tedious washing steps and slow reaction kinetics, whereas homogenous assays require well-designed fluorophore pairs to modulate signal off/on. Herein, we developed a cost-effective and efficient quencher-free fluorescent DNA assay using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). Using a strand-displacement reaction, we showed that similar sensing performance could be achieved at a much lower cost. Furthermore, the unique crowding environment in ATPS accelerated strand-displacement reactions by up to six-fold and reduced DNA amplification time from 120 min to 30 min. Our assay demonstrated robust sensing in serum environments and successful detection of miRNA extracted from cells. This innovative assay format has the potential for biosensor development with both heterogeneous readout and rapid reaction kinetics in various applications.

On-Site Fluorescent Detection of Sepsis-Inducing Bacteria using a Graphene-Oxide CRISPR-Cas12a (GO-CRISPR) System

Sepsis is an extremely dangerous medical condition that emanates from the body's response to a pre-existing infection. Early detection of sepsis-inducing bacterial infections can greatly enhance the treatment process and potentially prevent the onset of sepsis. However, current point-of-care (POC) sensors are often complex and costly or lack the ideal sensitivity for effective bacterial detection. Therefore, it is crucial to develop rapid and sensitive biosensors for the on-site detection of sepsis-inducing bacteria. Herein, we developed a graphene oxide CRISPR-Cas12a (GO-CRISPR) biosensor for the detection of sepsis-inducing bacteria in human serum. In this strategy, single-stranded (ssDNA) FAM probes were quenched with single-layer graphene oxide (GO). Target-activated Cas12a trans-cleavage was utilized for the degradation of the ssDNA probes, detaching the short ssDNA probes from GO and recovering the fluorescent signals. Under optimal conditions, we employed our GO-CRISPR system for the detection of Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) with a detection sensitivity of as low as 3 × 103 CFU/mL in human serum, as well as a good detection specificity toward other competing bacteria. In addition, the GO-CRISPR biosensor exhibited excellent sensitivity to the detection of S. Typhimurium in spiked human serum. The GO-CRISPR system offers superior rapidity for the detection of sepsis-inducing bacteria and has the potential to enhance the early detection of bacterial infections in resource-limited settings, expediting the response for patients at risk of sepsis.

A review of nanomaterials for biosensing applications

A biosensor is a device that reacts with the analyte to be analyzed, detects its concentration, and generates readable information, which plays an important role in medical diagnosis, detection of physiological indicators, and disease prevention. Nanomaterials have received increasing attention in the fabrication and improvement of biosensors due to their unique physicochemical and optical properties. In this paper, the properties of nanomaterials such as the size effect, optical and electrical properties, and their advantages in the field of biosensing are briefly summarized, and the application of nanomaterials can effectively improve the sensitivity and reduce the detection limit of biosensors. The advantages of commonly used nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), quantum dots (QDs), graphene, and magnetic nanobeads for biosensor applications are also reviewed. Besides, the two main types of biosensors using nanomaterials involved in their construction and their working principles are described, and the toxicity and biocompatibility of nanomaterials and the future direction of nanomaterial biosensors are discussed.

Identification of microbes using single-layer graphene-based nano biosensors

CONTEXT

Graphene based nano sensors have huge potential in an era of sensor technology. The objective of this study is to create a sensor by investigating the vibration responses of cantilever and bridged boundary conditioned single layer graphene sheets (SLGS) with various attached microorganisms on the tip and at the centre of the sheet. The Parvoviridae, Flaviviridae, and Polyomaviridae biological substances have been comprehensively investigated here. For the Parvoviridae, Polyomaviridae, and Flaviviridae categories of targeted microbes, the sizes are 21nm, 40nm, and 45nm, respectively. The Parvoviridae family has a maximum frequency of 1.87x107 Hz with a cantilever condition and a mass of 4.2441 Zg, and for a bridged condition, it demonstrates a maximum frequency of 1.23x108 Hz with the same mass on armchair SLG (5 5). The data analysis shows that 3.0041 Zg mass of the Mimivirus has the lowest frequency. It demonstrates explicitly that the rate of frequency decreases as the value of mass increases. When compared to chiral SLG, the armchair single layer graphene sheet performs better. The research indicates that the dynamic properties are significantly influenced by the mass of various biological organisms. The application of this sensor will enable the detection of microorganisms or viruses that can be connected to SLG.

METHODS

In this research, the application of Single Layer Graphene (SLG) as a virus sensing device is explored. Atomistic finite element method (AFEM) has been used to carry out the dynamic analysis of SLG. Molecular dynamic analysis and simulations have been performed to see how SLG behaves when employed as sensors for biological entities and when they are exposed to bridged and cantilever boundary conditions. The frequency analysis was performed using ANSYS APDL software. SLG of various chirality has been utilised in the investigation. By altering the applied mass of a biological object, the difference in frequency observed. The idea behind mass detection employing nano biosensors is built on the concept that the stiffness of a biomolecule changes as its mass changes, making the resonant frequency extremely sensitive to that change. A shift in the resonance frequency results from a change in the associated mass on the graphene sheet. The main challenge in mass detection is estimating the variation in resonant frequency driven by the mass of the connected molecule. The SLG-based biosensor has a specific application in the early identification of diseases. The biosensor investigated in this article is novel, whereas the biosensors that are presently on the market operate using the ionization method. The simulations result shows SLG based biosensor's sensitivity considerably faster than an existing one.

Graphene-like emerging 2D materials: recent progress, challenges and future outlook

Owing to the unique physical and chemical properties of 2D materials and the great success of graphene in various applications, the scientific community has been influenced to explore a new class of graphene-like 2D materials for next-generation technological applications. Consequently, many alternative layered and non-layered 2D materials, including h-BN, TMDs, and MXenes, have been synthesized recently for applications related to the 4th industrial revolution. In this review, recent progress in state-of-the-art research on 2D materials, including their synthesis routes, characterization and application-oriented properties, has been highlighted. The evolving applications of 2D materials in the areas of electronics, optoelectronics, spintronic devices, sensors, high-performance and transparent electrodes, energy conversion and storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and nanocomposites are discussed. In particular, the state-of-the-art applications, challenges, and outlook of every class of 2D material are also presented as concluding remarks to guide this fast-progressing class of 2D materials beyond graphene for scientific research into next-generation materials.

Selective detection of Pb2+ ions based on a graphene field-effect transistor gated by DNAzymes in binding mode

Heavy metal contamination has become a severe threat to dairy products through contaminated feed and the environment water. Among them, Pb(II) is highly toxic to the human body even under minimal exposure. Therefore, establishing a fast and sensitive Pb2+ detection technology is significant for rapid screening of vast number of dairy products. Hererin, we report the development of a sensitive and selective Pb(II) biosensor based on a solution-gated graphene transistor (SGGT) with the gate modified by Pb2+-dependent DNAzyme probes. It has also been explored that the DNAzymes working in simple binding mode integrate better with the SGGT than those working in normal catalytic mode, showing significantly stronger channel current responses and lower detection limit down to 0.39 μg/L (or 1.9 nM). Finally, the biosensor was practicably applied to the detection of lead ions in pure milk samples with a high recovery rate. We believe that this work reveals the best strategy for integrating metal ion dependent DNAzyme probes with SGGT sensing platforms to selectively and sensitively detect many metal ions.

Graphene oxide had adverse effects on sperm motility and morphology through oxidative stress

Graphene oxide (GO) is a new type of graphene material, but its effects on the male reproductive system are unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of GO on human sperm in vitro. Sperms were incubated with various doses of GO (0, 10, 20, or 40 μg/mL) for different times (1, 3, or 6 h) at 37 °C, followed by analyses of the sperm motility, viability, abnormalities, and DNA fragmentations. GO exposure significantly decreased sperm motility and viability, increased sperm abnormalities, and DNA fragmentation. Moreover, GO exposure resulted in a significant reduction of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which was confirmed by the ultrastructural changes of chromatin and mitochondria caused by GO. These data revealed the adverse effects of GO on sperm. Further research showed that GO exposure led to a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sperm cells and a significant decrease in total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). In addition, western blot analysis showed that the levels of Nrf-2 and HO-1 protein expression in GO-treated sperm cells were significantly increased compared to the control. These results indicated that GO had adverse effects on human sperm through oxidative stress, which was associated with Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Exploring the Synergies of Single-Molecule Fluorescence and 2D Materials Coupled by DNA

The world of 2D materials is steadily growing, with numerous researchers attempting to discover, elucidate, and exploit their properties. Approaches relying on the detection of single fluorescent molecules offer a set of advantages, for instance, high sensitivity and specificity, that allow the drawing of conclusions with unprecedented precision. Herein, it is argued how the study of 2D materials benefits from fluorescence-based single-molecule modalities, and vice versa. A special focus is placed on DNA, serving as a versatile adaptor when anchoring single dye molecules to 2D materials. The existing literature on the fruitful combination of the two fields is reviewed, and an outlook on the additional synergies that can be created between them provided.

Catalytic Hairpin Assembly-Enhanced Graphene Transistor for Ultrasensitive miRNA Detection

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as powerful biomarkers for disease diagnosis and screening. Traditional miRNA analytical techniques are inadequate for point-of-care testing due to their reliance on specialized expertise and instruments. Graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) offer the prospect of simple and label-free diagnostics. Herein, a GFET biosensor based on tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN)-assisted catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) reaction (TCHA) has been fabricated and applied to the sensitive and specific detection of miRNA-21. TDN structures are assembled to construct the biosensing interface, facilitating CHA reaction by providing free space and preventing unwanted entanglements, aggregation, and adsorption of probes on the graphene channel. Owing to synergistic effects of TDN-assisted in situ nucleic acid amplification on the sensing surface, as well as inherent signal sensitization of GFETs, the biosensor exhibits ultrasensitive detection of miRNA-21 down to 5.67 × 10-19 M, approximately three orders of magnitude lower than that normally achieved by graphene transistors with channel functionalization of single-stranded DNA probes. In addition, the biosensor demonstrates excellent analytical performance regarding selectivity, stability, and reproducibility. Furthermore, the practicability of the biosensor is verified by analyzing targets in a complex serum environment and cell lysates, showing tremendous potential in bioanalysis and clinical diagnosis.

The influence of protein corona on Graphene Oxide: implications for biomedical theranostics

Graphene-based nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in the field of nanomedicine due to their unique atomic arrangement which allows for manifold applications. However, their inherent high hydrophobicity poses challenges in biological systems, thereby limiting their usage in biomedical areas. To address this limitation, one approach involves introducing oxygen functional groups on graphene surfaces, resulting in the formation of graphene oxide (GO). This modification enables improved dispersion, enhanced stability, reduced toxicity, and tunable surface properties. In this review, we aim to explore the interactions between GO and the biological fluids in the context of theranostics, shedding light on the formation of the "protein corona" (PC) i.e., the protein-enriched layer that formed around nanosystems when exposed to blood. The presence of the PC alters the surface properties and biological identity of GO, thus influencing its behavior and performance in various applications. By investigating this phenomenon, we gain insights into the bio-nano interactions that occur and their biological implications for different intents such as nucleic acid and drug delivery, active cell targeting, and modulation of cell signalling pathways. Additionally, we discuss diagnostic applications utilizing biocoronated GO and personalized PC analysis, with a particular focus on the detection of cancer biomarkers. By exploring these cutting-edge advancements, this comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the rapidly evolving field of GO-based nanomedicine for theranostic applications.

Applications of graphene-based nanomaterials in drug design: The good, the bad and the ugly

INTRODUCTION

Graphene-based materials (GBMs) have unique physicochemical properties that make them extremely attractive as platforms for the design of new drugs. Indeed, their bidimensional (2D) morphology, high surface area, mechanical and optical properties, associated to different possibilities for functionalization of their surface, provides opportunities for their use as nanomedicines for drug delivery and/or phototherapies.

AREAS COVERED

This opinion paper provides an overview of the current status of GBMs in drug design, with a focus on their therapeutic applications, potential environmental and health risks, and some controversial results. The authors discuss the chemical modifications of GBMs for the treatment of various diseases. The potential toxicity associated with some GBMs is also presented, along with a safe-by-design approach to minimize the risks. Finally, the authors address some issues associated to the use of GBMs in the biomedical field, such as contradictory antibacterial effects, fluorescence quenching and imprecise chemical functionalization.

EXPERT OPINION

GBMs are a promising and exciting area of research in drug delivery. It is however important that responsible and safe use of these materials is ensured to fully exploit their advantages and overcome their drawbacks.

Aptamer Sensors for the Detection of Antibiotic Residues- A Mini-Review

Food security is a global issue, since it is closely related to human health. Antibiotics play a significant role in animal husbandry owing to their desirable broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. However, irrational use of antibiotics has caused serious environmental pollution and food safety problems; thus, the on-site detection of antibiotics is in high demand in environmental analysis and food safety assessment. Aptamer-based sensors are simple to use, accurate, inexpensive, selective, and are suitable for detecting antibiotics for environmental and food safety analysis. This review summarizes the recent advances in aptamer-based electrochemical, fluorescent, and colorimetric sensors for antibiotics detection. The review focuses on the detection principles of different aptamer sensors and recent achievements in developing electrochemical, fluorescent, and colorimetric aptamer sensors. The advantages and disadvantages of different sensors, current challenges, and future trends of aptamer-based sensors are also discussed.

Cartridge voltage-sensitive micropump immunosensor based on a self-assembled polydopamine coating mediated signal amplification strategy

Current biosensing detection assays were developed to focus on rapid, low-cost, stable detection for clinical diagnosis and food safety monitoring. In this work, a novel portable cartridge voltage-sensitive micropump immunosensor (CVMS) biosensing device based on the integration of the microchannel circuit biosensing principle and polydopamine (PDA) was presented for rapid and sensitive detection of pathogenic factors in real samples at trace levels. The CVMS can sensitively evaluate voltage signal changes caused by clogging effects in the closed-loop circuit when the insulated microspheres pass through the microchannel. The targets could trigger the immune reaction between antibody-antigens that leads to the change in the concentration of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). And the HRP was further employed to catalyze the polymerization of dopamine into PDA, resulting in the rapid formation of the magnetic @PDA nanoparticles (MNP@PDA) with core-shell structures. The abundant functional groups on the MNP@PDA surface can efficiently adsorb polystyrene microspheres, thus causing changes in the number of polystyrene microspheres (PS). The CVMS can accurately monitor the change of PS with a portable device, which weighs less than 0.8 kg and costs only $50. The completion of CVMS takes 90 min to complete. The limit of detection of this immunosensor for procalcitonin and ochratoxin A were 42 pg/mL and 77 pg/mL, respectively, which improved about 15 folds and 38 folds, respectively, than those of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Laser Reduced Graphene Oxide Electrode for Pathogenic Escherichia coli Detection

Graphene-based materials are of interest in electrochemical biosensing due to their unique properties, such as high surface areas, unique electrochemical properties, and biocompatibility. However, the scalable production of graphene electrodes remains a challenge; it is typically slow, expensive, and inefficient. Herein, we reported a simple, fast, and maskless method for large-scale, low-cost reduced graphene oxide electrode fabrication; using direct writing (laser scribing and inkjet printing) coupled with a stamp-transferring method. In this process, graphene oxide is simultaneously reduced and patterned with a laser, before being press-stamped onto polyester sheets. The transferred electrodes were characterized by SEM, XPS, Raman, and electrochemical methods. The biosensing utility of the electrodes was demonstrated by developing an electrochemical test for Escherichia coli. These biosensors exhibited a wide dynamic range (917-2.1 × 107 CFU/mL) of low limits of detection (283 CFU/mL) using just 5 μL of sample. The test was also verified in spiked artificial urine, and the sensor was integrated into a portable wireless system driven and measured by a smartphone. This work demonstrates the potential to use these biosensors for real-world, point-of-care applications. Hypothetically, the devices are suitable for the detection of other pathogenic bacteria.

Innovations in the synthesis of graphene nanostructures for bio and gas sensors

Sensors play a significant role in modern technologies and devices used in industries, hospitals, healthcare, nanotechnology, astronomy, and meteorology. Sensors based upon nanostructured materials have gained special attention due to their high sensitivity, precision accuracy, and feasibility. This review discusses the fabrication of graphene-based biosensors and gas sensors, which have highly efficient performance. Significant developments in the synthesis routes to fabricate graphene-based materials with improved structural and surface properties have boosted their utilization in sensing applications. The higher surface area, better conductivity, tunable structure, and atom-thick morphology of these hybrid materials have made them highly desirable for the fabrication of flexible and stable sensors. Many publications have reported various modification approaches to improve the selectivity of these materials. In the current work, a compact and informative review focusing on the most recent developments in graphene-based biosensors and gas sensors has been designed and delivered. The research community has provided a complete critical analysis of the most robust case studies from the latest fabrication routes to the most complex challenges. Some significant ideas and solutions have been proposed to overcome the limitations regarding the field of biosensors and hazardous gas sensors.

Hydrogel-based thermosensor using peptide nucleic acid and PEGylated graphene oxide

Developing a ready-to-use miniaturized thermosensor is a great challenge due to its individual use on a large scale for daily business such as food industry and healthcare. Herein, a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified graphene oxide (GO)-based hydrogel thermosensor was established with a fluorescent dye-labeled peptide nucleic acid (F-PNA). The size-tunable hydrogel with high water content and sufficient solidity allowed free movement of the oligonucleotides through the pores and improved usability for handling the sensor. In the PEG-GO hydrogel, the DNA/F-PNA duplex could be denatured by increasing the temperature, followed by selective PNA capture on the PEG-GO. Using this principle, the PEG-GO hydrogel exhibited a change in the fluorescence signal of F-PNA in a temperature-dependent manner, allowing real-time visualization of temperature on a large scale. The temperature detection range of this system can be adjusted by designing the PNA strands based on the melting temperature of the DNAzyme/PNA duplex. Its sensing specificity and detection range could be increased and broadened by observing multi-color detection using PNA probes labeled with different fluorescent dyes of different lengths in a single hydrogel. In addition, the hydrogel platform is easy to store for long time periods via dehydration and can be restored with the addition of water, allowing easy transport, storage, and use of the thermosensor in everyday life.

Nucleic acid and nanomaterial-assisted signal-amplified strategies in fluorescent analysis of circulating tumor cells and small extracellular vesicles

As two main types of liquid biopsy markers, both circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) play important roles in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers. CTCs are malignant cells that detach from the original tumor tissue and enter the circulation of body fluids. sEVs are nanoscale vesicles secreted by normal cells or pathological cells. However, CTCs and sEVs in body fluids are scarce, leading to great difficulties in the accurate analysis of related diseases. For the sensitive detection of CTCs and sEVs in body fluids, various types of nucleic acid and nanomaterial-assisted signal amplification strategies have been developed. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in fluorescent detection of CTCs and sEVs in liquid biopsy based on nucleic acid and nanomaterial-assisted signal amplification strategies. We also discuss their advantages, challenges, and future prospects.

Engineering DNAzyme strategies for fluorescent detection of lead ions based on RNA cleavage-propelled signal amplification

Based on the high recognition ability and flexible programmability of GR5 DNAzyme, two fluorescent biosensors were engineered for amplified detection of Pb²⁺ via incorporating Ti₃C₂T_X MXenes and embedding 2-aminopurine (2-AP), respectively. The quencher-required approach relied on the DNA affinity and fluorescence quenching ability of Ti₃C₂T_X MXenes. Benefiting from the low background signal modulated by Ti₃C₂T_X MXenes, the sensitive determination of Pb²⁺ was achieved in the linear range of 0.2-10 ng mL^-1 with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 ng mL^-1. The quencher-free approach combined the fluorescent trait of 2-AP embedded in DNA structure, and the RNA cleavage-propelled digestion process of Exonuclease I (Exo I) for signal amplification, indicating the sensitive detection of Pb²⁺ with the LOD as low as 0.02 ng mL^-1 in the linear range of 0.1-10 ng mL^-1. Both DNAzyme assays exhibited simple procedures, favorable specificity, rapid analysis, and satisfactory application in standard reference materials (lead in drinking water) and spiked water samples. The two fluorescent biosensors established in this work would not only provide theoretic fundament for DNA adsorption of Ti₃C₂T_X MXenes and the design of 2-AP-embedded DNAzyme assays, but also hold a great potential for on-site monitoring of lead pollution in water samples.

Optical Biosensor Based on Graphene and Its Derivatives for Detecting Biomolecules

Graphene and its derivatives show great potential for biosensing due to their extraordinary optical, electrical and physical properties. In particular, graphene and its derivatives have excellent optical properties such as broadband and tunable absorption, fluorescence bursts, and strong polarization-related effects. Optical biosensors based on graphene and its derivatives make nondestructive detection of biomolecules possible. The focus of this paper is to review the preparation of graphene and its derivatives, as well as recent advances in optical biosensors based on graphene and its derivatives. The working principle of face plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and colorimetric sensors are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of graphene and its derivatives applicable to various types of sensors are analyzed, and the methods of surface functionalization of graphene and its derivatives are introduced; these optical biosensors can be used for the detection of a range of biomolecules such as single cells, cellular secretions, proteins, nucleic acids, and antigen-antibodies; these new high-performance optical sensors are capable of detecting changes in surface structure and biomolecular interactions with the advantages of ultra-fast detection, high sensitivity, label-free, specific recognition, and the ability to respond in real-time. Problems in the current stage of application are discussed, as well as future prospects for graphene and its biosensors. Achieving the applicability, reusability and low cost of novel optical biosensors for a variety of complex environments and achieving scale-up production, which still faces serious challenges.

Engineering constructed of high selectivity dexamethasone aptamer based on truncation and mutation technology

Various biosensors based on aptamers are currently the most popular rapid detection approaches, but the performance of these sensors is closely related to the affinity of aptamers. In this work, a strategy for constructed high-affinity aptamer was proposed. By truncating the bases flanking the 59 nt dexamethasones (DEX) original aptamer sequence to improve the sensitivity of the aptamer to DEX, and then base mutation was introduced to further improve the sensitivity and selectivity of aptamers. Finally, the 33 nt aptamer Apt-M13 with G-quadruplex structures was obtained. The dissociation constant (K_d) was determined to be 200 nM by Graphene oxide (GO)-based fluorometry. As-prepared Apt-M13 was used for a label-free colorimetric aptamer sensor based on gold nanoparticles, the LOD was 3.2-fold lower than the original aptamer described in previous works. The anti-interference ability of DEX analogs is also further improved. It indicates that truncation technology effectively improves the specificity of the aptamer to DEX in this work, and the introduction of mutation further improves the affinity and selectivity of the aptamer to DEX. Therefore, the proposed aptamer optimization method is also expected to become a general strategy for various aptamer sequences.

Fluorescent Biosensors for the Detection of Viruses Using Graphene and Two-Dimensional Carbon Nanomaterials

Two-dimensional carbon nanomaterials have been commonly employed in the field of biosensors to improve their sensitivity/limits of detection and shorten the analysis time. These nanomaterials act as efficient transducers because of their unique characteristics, such as high surface area and optical, electrical, and magnetic properties, which in turn have been exploited to create simple, quick, and low-cost biosensing platforms. In this review, graphene and two-dimensional carbon material-based fluorescent biosensors are covered between 2010 and 2021, for the detection of different human viruses. This review specifically focuses on the new developments in graphene and two-dimensional carbon nanomaterials for fluorescent biosensing based on the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism. The high-efficiency quenching capability of graphene via the FRET mechanism enhances the fluorescent-based biosensors. The review provides a comprehensive reference for the different types of carbon nanomaterials employed for the detection of viruses such as Rotavirus, Ebola virus, Influenza virus H3N2, HIV, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Hepatitis B virus (HBV). This review covers the various multiplexing detection technologies as a new direction in the development of biosensing platforms for virus detection. At the end of the review, the different challenges in the use of fluorescent biosensors, as well as some insights into how to overcome them, are highlighted.

Advanced screening and tailoring strategies of pesticide aptamer for constructing biosensor

The rapid development of aptamers has helped address the challenges presented by the wide existed pesticides contaminations. Screening of aptamers with excellent performance is a prerequisite for successfully constructing biosensors, while further tailoring of aptamers with enhanced activity greatly improved the assay performance. Firstly, this paper reviewed the advanced screening strategies for pesticides aptamers, including immobilization screening that preserves the native structures of targets, non-immobilized screening based on nanomaterials, capillary electrophoresis-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (CE-SELEX), virtual screening in silico, high-throughput selection, and rational secondary library generation methods, which contributed significantly to improve the success rate of screening, reduce the screening time, and ensure aptamer binding affinity. Secondly, the precise tailoring strategies for pesticides aptamers were modularly elaborated, containing deletion, splitting, elongation, and fusion, which provided various advantages like cost-efficiency, enhanced binding affinity, and new derived functional motifs. Thirdly, the developed aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) for pesticide detection were systematically reviewed according to the different signal output modes. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of pesticide detection are discussed comprehensively.

Development of a graphene oxide nanosheet and double-stranded DNA structure based fluorescent “signal off” aptasensor for ochratoxin A detection in malt

•

A fluorescence “signal off” aptasensor was developed for OTA detection in malt.

•

It was based on the fluorescence quenching of GO nanosheets on FAM fluorophores labeled on cDNA.

•

An OTA concentration-dependent quenched fluorescence was measured for OTA quantitation.

•

The aptasensor exhibited outstanding sensitivity with a LOD of 11 pg/mL and a wide dynamic range.

•

The feasibility and reliability was verified by determining OTA in malt samples.

A “signal off” fluorescent aptasensor based on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet and double-stranded DNA structure was fabricated for OTA detection. In the absence of OTA, the aptamer and its complementary DNA (cDNA) formed double-stranded conjugates that could coexist with GO, presenting fluorescence responses. Then, the presented OTA was captured by the aptamers, causing the release of cDNA-FAM probes. The free probes were adsorbed by GO, leading to an OTA concentration-dependent fluorescence quenching through fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Under optimum conditions, the fluorescent aptasensor exhibited outstanding sensitivity with a LOD of 11 pg/mL and a wide dynamic range of 0.04–30 ng/mL. The selectivity of the aptasensor was confirmed against other four mycotoxins, and the feasibility and reliability were verified by determining OTA in the spiked malt samples with satisfactory recovery of 95.50%-112.05%. This aptasensing platform could be adapted to measure other mycotoxins by replacing the aptamer sequences for food safety.

Progress in Nanomaterials-Based Enzyme and Aptamer Biosensor for the Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticides

With the improvement of people's safety awareness, the requirement of pesticide detection is gradually increasing, and many new detection methods toward Organophosphorus pesticide (OPs) has been further developed and applied. Nanomaterials-based biosensors have played an important role in the trace detection of OPs. This article mainly introduces the detection principle of enzymes and aptamers as the identification element of biosensors. Various nanomaterials (i.e., metals and metal oxides, carbon nanotubes, graphene and graphene oxide, quantum dots, metal organic frameworks, molecular imprinted polymers, etc.) possess their unique properties and play different roles in the enzyme and aptamer-based biosensors toward OPs: (a) to produce the optical or electrochemical signal; (b) as a carrier to load the enzyme or aptamer; (c) to enhance the signal response. Besides, the intelligent portable devices provide the possibility to realize the onsite and real-time detection. The limitations of some nanomaterials and the future development are discussed. Finally, the future of enzyme and aptamer-based biosensors has prospected.

Properties and Applications of Graphene and Its Derivatives in Biosensors for Cancer Detection: A Comprehensive Review

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide, and there is a critical need for diagnostic platforms for applications in early cancer detection. The diagnosis of cancer can be made by identifying abnormal cell characteristics such as functional changes, a number of vital proteins in the body, abnormal genetic mutations and structural changes, and so on. Identifying biomarker candidates such as DNA, RNA, mRNA, aptamers, metabolomic biomolecules, enzymes, and proteins is one of the most important challenges. In order to eliminate such challenges, emerging biomarkers can be identified by designing a suitable biosensor. One of the most powerful technologies in development is biosensor technology based on nanostructures. Recently, graphene and its derivatives have been used for diverse diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Graphene-based biosensors have exhibited significant performance with excellent sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and a wide detection range. In this review, the principle of technology, advances, and challenges in graphene-based biosensors such as field-effect transistors (FET), fluorescence sensors, SPR biosensors, and electrochemical biosensors to detect different cancer cells is systematically discussed. Additionally, we provide an outlook on the properties, applications, and challenges of graphene and its derivatives, such as Graphene Oxide (GO), Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO), and Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs), in early cancer detection by nanobiosensors.

A graphene oxide-based covalent resorufin-conjugated fluorescence "off-on" probe for detection of hydrazine

The unique properties of graphene oxide (GO), such as good water solubility, non-toxicity, biocompatibility and cell permeability, make GO well suited for a number of biological applications. In this study, we explore the application of GO as an efficient fluorescent quencher for a highly fluorescent organic dye, resorufin (RF). The quenching effect of GO on resorufin is studied by noncovalent and covalent bonding of resorufin, respectively. The fluorescence is completely quenched when resorufin is covalently linked to GO; while resorufin's fluorescence could be still observed through noncovalent bonding to GO sheet. Interestingly, addition of hydrazine into RF-GO complex causes the fluorescence recovered, providing a potential ''OFF-ON'' fluorescence responsive probe for detecting hydrazine in vitro and in living cells.

Nanostructured Carbons: towards Soft-Bioelectronics, Biosensing and Theraputic Applications

Recently, nanostructured carbon-based soft bioelectronics and biosensors have received tremendous attention due to their outstanding physical and chemical properties. The ultrahigh specific surface area, high flexibility, lightweight, high electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility of 1D and 2D nanocarbons, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene, are advantageous for bioelectronics applications. These materials improve human life by delivering therapeutic advancements in gene, tumor, chemo, photothermal, immune, radio, and precision therapies. They are also utilized in biosensing platforms, including optical and electrochemical biosensors to detect cholesterol, glucose, pathogenic bacteria (e. g., coronavirus), and avian leucosis virus. This review summarizes the most recent advancements in bioelectronics and biosensors by exploiting the outstanding characteristics of nanocarbon materials. The synthesis and biocompatibility of nanocarbon materials are briefly discussed. In the following sections, applications of graphene and CNTs for different therapies and biosensing are elaborated. Finally, the key challenges and future perspectives of nanocarbon materials for biomedical applications are highlighted.

Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) as a Smart and Sustainable Material to Restrain Pandemics and Endemics: A Perspective

A healthy environment is necessary for a human being to survive. The contagious COVID-19 virus has disastrously contaminated the environment, leading to direct or indirect transmission. Therefore, the environment demands adequate prevention and control strategies at the beginning of the viral spread. Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is a three-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterial fabricated in a single step on a wide variety of low-cost to high-quality carbonaceous materials without using any additional chemicals potentially used for antiviral, antibacterial, and sensing applications. LIG has extraordinary properties, including high surface area, electrical and thermal conductivity, environmental-friendliness, easy fabrication, and patterning, making it a sustainable material for controlling SARS-CoV-2 or similar pandemic transmission through different sources. LIG's antiviral, antibacterial, and antibiofouling properties were mainly due to the thermal and electrical properties and texture derived from nanofibers and micropores. This perspective will highlight the conducted research and the future possibilities on LIG for its antimicrobial, antiviral, antibiofouling, and sensing applications. It will also manifest the idea of incorporating this sustainable material into different technologies like air purifiers, antiviral surfaces, wearable sensors, water filters, sludge treatment, and biosensing. It will pave a roadmap to explore this single-step fabrication technique of graphene to deal with pandemics and endemics in the coming future.

Structure-switching aptamer triggering signal amplification strategy for tobramycin detection based on hybridization chain reaction and fluorescence synergism

Based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and fluorescence synergism, a novel aptasensor for tobramycin was successfully constructed. Tobramycin competed with cDNA-FAM to bind aptamers immobilized on magnetic beads. After magnetic separation, the released cDNA-FAM acted as initiator to trigger HCR amplification, thus the fluorescence was significantly enhanced due to binding of SYBR Green Ⅰ (SGI) to the formed long double-stranded DNA and the synergistic fluorescence of FAM. In the absence of tobramycin, the initiator was magnetically separated and no HCR occurred, more importantly, graphene oxide can quench the fluorescence of excessive hairpins/SGI and cDNA-FAM, so almost no background signal was detected. This aptasensor can monitor tobramycin in the range of 0.3-50 μM with low detection limit of 17.37 nM. Due to the potential generality of structure-switching aptamers and effectiveness of fluorescence synergism, this enzyme-free amplification strategy can be extended to other applications by rational design of nucleic acid sequences.

Enhanced Probe Bonding and Fluorescence Properties through Annealed Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

Graphene oxide (GO) has been widely used in biological sensing studies because of its excellent physical and chemical properties. In particular, the rich functional groups on the surface of GO can effectively enhance the bonding of biomolecules and serve as an efficient sensing substrate. However, when biomolecules are labeled with fluorescence, the GO interface affects the biomolecules by reducing the fluorescence properties and limiting their applications in biosensing. Here, we establish an annealed GO (aGO) substrate through the annealing process, which can effectively increase the bonding amount of a DNA probe because of the accumulation of oxygen atoms on the surface without significantly damaging the nanosheet structure. Furthermore, we prove that the aGO substrate can effectively maintain its fluorescence performance and stability by exposing more graphic domains. Overall, this study successfully verifies that GO's interface annealing modification can be used as an alternative innovative interface application in biosensing.

2D Material-Based Optical Biosensor: Status and Prospect

The combination of 2D materials and optical biosensors has become a hot research topic in recent years. Graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, MXenes, and other 2D materials (metal oxides and degenerate semiconductors) have unique optical properties and play a unique role in the detection of different biomolecules. Through the modification of 2D materials, optical biosensor has the advantages that traditional sensors (such as electrical sensing) do not have, and the sensitivity and detection limit are greatly improved. Here, optical biosensors based on different 2D materials are reviewed. First, various detection methods of biomolecules, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and evanescent wave and properties, preparation and integration strategies of 2D material, are introduced in detail. Second, various biosensors based on 2D materials are summarized. Furthermore, the applications of these optical biosensors in biological imaging, food safety, pollution prevention/control, and biological medicine are discussed. Finally, the future development of optical biosensors is prospected. It is believed that with their in-depth research in the laboratory, optical biosensors will gradually become commercialized and improve people's quality of life in many aspects.

Graphene oxide toxicity in W1118 flies

The risk of graphene oxide (GO) exposure to various species has been greatly amplified in recent years due to its booming production and applications in various fields. However, a deep understanding of the GO biosafety lags its wide applications. Herein, we used W¹¹¹⁸ flies as a model organism to study GO toxicity at relatively low concentrations. We found that GO exposure led to remarkable weight loss, delayed development, retarded motion, and shortened lifespan of these flies. On the other hand, the GO influence on their sex ratio and the total number of pupae and adults were insignificant. The toxicological effect of GO was shown to be related to its serious compromise of the nutrient absorption in flies due to the severe damages in midguts. These damages were then attributed to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which triggers the oxidative stress. These findings reveal the underlying mechanisms of GO biotoxicities in fruit flies, which might provide a useful reference to assess the risks of these newly invented nanomaterials likely never encountered by various species before.

Two-dimensional material-based virus detection

Cost-effective, rapid, and accurate virus detection technologies play key roles in reducing viral transmission. Prompt and accurate virus detection enables timely treatment and effective quarantine of virus carrier, and therefore effectively reduces the possibility of large-scale spread. However, conventional virus detection techniques often suffer from slow response, high cost or sophisticated procedures. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) materials have been used as promising sensing platforms for the high-performance detection of a variety of chemical and biological substances. The unique properties of 2D materials, such as large specific area, active surface interaction with biomolecules and facile surface functionalization, provide advantages in developing novel virus detection technologies with fast response and high sensitivity. Furthermore, 2D materials possess versatile and tunable electronic, electrochemical and optical properties, making them ideal platforms to demonstrate conceptual sensing techniques and explore complex sensing mechanisms in next-generation biosensors. In this review, we first briefly summarize the virus detection techniques with an emphasis on the current efforts in fighting again COVID-19. Then, we introduce the preparation methods and properties of 2D materials utilized in biosensors, including graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and other 2D materials. Furthermore, we discuss the working principles of various virus detection technologies based on emerging 2D materials, such as field-effect transistor-based virus detection, electrochemical virus detection, optical virus detection and other virus detection techniques. Then, we elaborate on the essential works in 2D material-based high-performance virus detection. Finally, our perspective on the challenges and future research direction in this field is discussed.

Optimizing locked nucleic acid modification in double-stranded biosensors for live single cell analysis

Double-stranded (ds) biosensors are homogeneous oligonucleotide probes for detection of nucleic acid sequences in biochemical assays and live cell imaging.

Label-free bioassay with graphene oxide-based fluorescent aptasensors: A review

Bioassays using a fluorophore and DNA aptamer have been extensively developed due to the ultrasensitivity of fluorophores and recognition ability of DNA aptamers. Conventional fluorescent aptamer-based sensors (aptasensors) require chemical labeling between the fluorophore and aptamer and is technologically impracical for various sensing and assay applications. A simple "mix and go" strategy has been introduced that uses label-free technology as a platform for sensor development. The biosensors comprise a fluorophore, a ssDNA aptamer, and eco-friendly graphene oxide (GO). In the absence of the sensor target, GO quenches the fluorescence of the fluorophore and single-strand DNA aptamer complex. When the target is added, the DNA aptamer conformationally turns into a duplex, G-quadruplexe, or other secondary structure. This structure change leads to release of GO by the fluorophore-aptamer-target complex, generating dramatic fluorescence recovery and amplification. With this sensing method, the DNA aptamer does not need to be chemically labeled. Therefore, flexible fluorophore indicators and ssDNA aptamers can be used in this label-free aptasensing strategy. In this review, we discuss various unlabeled fluorophores, including synthetic small molecular fluorophores and genetically encoded fluorescent proteins, as indicators for generating GO-based fluorescent DNA aptasensors for label-free bioassay.

Graphene-Based Sensor for Detection of Bacterial Pathogens

Microbial colonization to biomedical surfaces and biofilm formation is one of the key challenges in the medical field. Recalcitrant biofilms on such surfaces cause serious infections which are difficult to treat using antimicrobial agents, due to their complex structure. Early detection of microbial colonization and monitoring of biofilm growth could turn the tide by providing timely guidance for treatment or replacement of biomedical devices. Hence, there is a need for sensors, which could generate rapid signals upon bacterial colonization. In this study, we developed a simple prototype sensor based on pristine, non-functionalized graphene. The detection principle is a change in electrical resistance of graphene upon exposure to bacterial cells. Without functionalization with specific receptors, such sensors cannot be expected to be selective to certain bacteria. However, we demonstrated that two different bacterial species can be detected and differentiated by our sensor due to their different growth dynamics, adherence pattern, density of adhered bacteria and microcolonies formation. These distinct behaviors of tested bacteria depicted distinguishable pattern of resistance change, resistance versus gate voltage plot and hysteresis effect. This sensor is simple to fabricate, can easily be miniaturized, and can be effective in cases when precise identification of species is not needed.

Recent advances in the exonuclease III-assisted target signal amplification strategy for nucleic acid detection

The detection of nucleic acids has become significantly important in molecular diagnostics, gene therapy, mutation analysis, forensic investigations and biomedical development, and so on. In recent years, exonuclease III (Exo III) as an enzyme in the 3'-5' exonuclease family has evolved as a frequently used technique for signal amplification of low level DNA target detection. Different from the traditional target amplification strategies, the Exo III-assisted amplification strategy has been used for target DNA detection through directly amplifying the amounts of signal reagents. The Exo III-assisted amplification strategy has its unique advantages and characters, because the character of non-specific recognition of Exo III can overcome the limitation of a target-to-probe ratio of 1 : 1 in the traditional nucleic acid hybridization assay and acquire higher sensitivity. In this review, we selectively discuss the recent advances in the Exo III-assisted amplification strategy, including the amplification strategy integrated with nanomaterials, biosensors, hairpin probes and other nucleic acid detection methods. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of each strategy and methods to overcome the limitations.

Nonenzymatic DNA-Based Fluorescence Biosensor Combining Carbon Dots and Graphene Oxide with Target-Induced DNA Strand Displacement for microRNA Detection

Based on a fluorescence "on-off-on" strategy, we fabricated a simple and highly sensitive DNA-based fluorescence biosensor for the detection of micro (mi)RNA from carbon dots (CDs) and graphene oxide (GO) without complicated and time-consuming operations. CDs were successfully synthesized and conjugated to the end of a single-stranded fuel DNA that was adsorbed onto the surface of GO through π-π stacking, resulting in fluorescence quenching. In the presence of the target miRNA let-7a, the fuel DNA was desorbed from the GO surface, and fluorescence was restored through two successive toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions on double-stranded DNA-modified gold nanoparticles. The target miRNA let-7a was recycled, leading to signal amplification. The concentration of let-7a was proportional to the degree of fluorescence recovery. Under optimal conditions, there was a good linear relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity and let-7a concentration in the range of 0.01-1 nM, with a detection limit of 7.8 pM. With its advantages of signal amplification and high biocompatibility, this fluorescence sensing strategy can be applied to the detection of a variety of target miRNAs and can guide the design of novel biosensors with improved properties.