[Frontiers in Bioscience S3, 1308-1331, June 1, 2011]

Electrochemical and optical biosensors based on nanomaterials and nanostructures: A Review

Ming Li1, Rui Li1,2, Chang Ming Li2, Nianqiang Wu1

1Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, WVNano Initiative, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6106, USA, 2School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637457, Singapore

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Electrochemical biosensors
3.1. The beauty of nanomaterials in electrochemical biosensors
3.2. Immobilization of biomolecules
3.3. Enhancement of the mass transport
3.4. Promotion of the electron transfer
4. SPR biosensors
4.1. Nanoparticle-based SPR biosensors
4.2. Chip-based SPR biosensors
5. SERS biosensors
5.1. Nanoparticle-based SERS biosensors
5.2. Bead-based SERS biosensors
5.3. Chip-based SERS biosensors
6. Fluorescent biosensors
6.1. Nanoparticle-based fluorescent biosensors
6.2. Bead-based fluorescent biosensors
6.3. Chip-based fluorescent biosensors
7. Summary and outlook
8. Acknowledgements
9. References

1. ABSTRACT

Nanomaterials and nanostructures exhibit unique size-tunable and shape-dependent physicochemical properties that are different from those of bulk materials. Advances of nanomaterials and nanostructures open a new door to develop various novel biosensors. The present work has reviewed the recent progress in electrochemical, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and fluorescent biosensors based on nanomaterials and nanostructures. An emphasis is put on the research that demonstrates how the performance of biosensors such as the limit of detection, sensitivity and selectivity is improved by the use of nanomaterials and nanostructures.