Carbon Nanostructures as a Multi-Functional Platform for Sensing Applications

The various forms of carbon nanostructures are providing extraordinary new opportunities that can revolutionize the way gas sensors, electrochemical sensors and biosensors are engineered. The great potential of carbon nanostructures as a sensing platform is exciting due to their unique electrical and chemical properties, highly scalable, biocompatible and particularly interesting due to the almost infinite possibility of functionalization with a wide variety of inorganic nanostructured materials and biomolecules. This opens a whole new pallet of specificity into sensors that can be extremely sensitive, durable and that can be incorporated into the ongoing new generation of wearable technology. Within this context, carbon-based nanostructures are amongst the most promising structures to be incorporated in a multi-functional platform for sensing. The present review discusses the various 1D, 2D and 3D carbon nanostructure forms incorporated into different sensor types as well as the novel functionalization approaches that allow such multi-functionality.

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Recent developments in carbon-based two-dimensional materials: synthesis and modification aspects for electrochemical sensors

Microchimica Acta ◽

10.1007/s00604-020-04415-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 187 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eva-Maria Kirchner ◽

Thomas Hirsch

Keyword(s):

Carbon Materials ◽

Electrochemical Sensors ◽

Field Effect Transistors ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Chemical Vapor ◽

Wide Field ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Sensing Applications ◽

The Impact ◽

Carbon Based

Abstract This review (162 references) focuses on two-dimensional carbon materials, which include graphene as well as its allotropes varying in size, number of layers, and defects, for their application in electrochemical sensors. Many preparation methods are known to yield two-dimensional carbon materials which are often simply addressed as graphene, but which show huge variations in their physical and chemical properties and therefore on their sensing performance. The first section briefly reviews the most promising as well as the latest achievements in graphene synthesis based on growth and delamination techniques, such as chemical vapor deposition, liquid phase exfoliation via sonication or mechanical forces, as well as oxidative procedures ranging from chemical to electrochemical exfoliation. Two-dimensional carbon materials are highly attractive to be integrated in a wide field of sensing applications. Here, graphene is examined as recognition layer in electrochemical sensors like field-effect transistors, chemiresistors, impedance-based devices as well as voltammetric and amperometric sensors. The sensor performance is evaluated from the material’s perspective of view and revealed the impact of structure and defects of the 2D carbon materials in different transducing technologies. It is concluded that the performance of 2D carbon-based sensors is strongly related to the preparation method in combination with the electrical transduction technique. Future perspectives address challenges to transfer 2D carbon-based sensors from the lab to the market.

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The Role of Functionalization in the Applications of Carbon Materials: An Overview

C – Journal of Carbon Research ◽

10.3390/c5040084 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 84 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Giorgio Speranza

Keyword(s):

Surface Chemistry ◽

Carbon Nanostructures ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Covalent Bonds ◽

Forms Of Carbon ◽

Life On Earth ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

Enormous Number ◽

Carbon Based

The carbon-based materials (CbMs) refer to a class of substances in which the carbon atoms can assume different hybridization states (sp1, sp2, sp3) leading to different allotropic structures -. In these substances, the carbon atoms can form robust covalent bonds with other carbon atoms or with a vast class of metallic and non-metallic elements, giving rise to an enormous number of compounds from small molecules to long chains to solids. This is one of the reasons why the carbon chemistry is at the basis of the organic chemistry and the biochemistry from which life on earth was born. In this context, the surface chemistry assumes a substantial role dictating the physical and chemical properties of the carbon-based materials. Different functionalities are obtained by bonding carbon atoms with heteroatoms (mainly oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur) determining a certain reactivity of the compound which otherwise is rather weak. This holds for classic materials such as the diamond, the graphite, the carbon black and the porous carbon but functionalization is widely applied also to the carbon nanostructures which came at play mainly in the last two decades. As a matter of fact, nowadays, in addition to fabrication of nano and porous structures, the functionalization of CbMs is at the basis of a number of applications as catalysis, energy conversion, sensing, biomedicine, adsorption etc. This work is dedicated to the modification of the surface chemistry reviewing the different approaches also considering the different macro and nano allotropic forms of carbon.

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Carbon Nanotubes, Nanofibers and Nanospikes for Electrochemical Sensing: A Review

International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems ◽

10.1142/s0129156417400080 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (03) ◽

pp. 1740008 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aysha S. Shanta ◽

Khandakar A. Al Mamun ◽

Syed K. Islam ◽

Nicole McFarlane ◽

Dale K. Hensley

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Electron Transfer ◽

Carbon Nanostructures ◽

Electrochemical Sensors ◽

Electrochemical Sensing ◽

Surface Areas ◽

Sensing Applications ◽

Defect Sites ◽

Comparative Review ◽

Bonding Properties

The structural and material properties of carbon based sensors have spurred their use in biosensing applications. Carbon electrodes are advantageous for electrochemical sensors due to their increased electroactive surface areas, enhanced electron transfer, and increased adsorption of target molecules. The bonding properties of carbon allows it to form a variety of crystal structures. This paper performs a comparative review of carbon nanostructures for electrochemical sensing applications. The review specifically compares carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon nanofibers (CNF), and carbon nanospikes (CNS). These carbon nanostructures possess defect sites and oxygen functional groups that aid in electron transfer and adsorption processes.

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Synthesis and Use of Reactive Molecular Precursors for the Preparation of Carbon Nanomaterials

Physical Sciences Reviews ◽

10.1515/psr-2016-0100 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Bjoern Schulte ◽

Stephen Schrettl ◽

Holger Frauenrath

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanostructures ◽

Carbon Nanomaterials ◽

Coupling Reactions ◽

Carbonaceous Matter ◽

Comprehensive Overview ◽

Chemical Functionalization ◽

Molecular Precursors ◽

Synthetic Routes ◽

Forms Of Carbon ◽

New Generation

AbstractThe use of reactive molecular carbon precursors is required if the preparation of carbon nanostructures and nanomaterials is to be achieved under conditions that are sufficiently benign to control their nanoscopic morphology and tailor their chemical functionalization. Recently, oligoyne precursors have been explored for this purpose, as they are sufficiently stable to be available in tangible quantities but readily rearrange in reactions that yield other forms of carbon. In this chapter, we briefly discuss available synthetic routes toward higher oligoynes that mostly rely on transition metal-mediated coupling reactions. Thereafter, a comprehensive overview of the use of oligoyne derivatives as precursors for carbon nanostructures and nanomaterials is given. While the non-templated conversion of simple oligoynes into carbonaceous matter exemplifies their potential as metastable carbon precursors, the more recent attempts to use functionalized oligoynes in host–guest complexes, self-assembled aggregates, thin films, colloids or other types of supramolecular structures have paved the way toward a new generation of carbon nanomaterials with predictable nanoscopic morphology and chemical functionalization.

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Carbon Nanotube-Based Electrochemical Sensors: Principles and Applications in Biomedical Systems

Journal of Sensors ◽

10.1155/2009/187615 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2009 ◽

pp. 1-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Chengguo Hu ◽

Shengshui Hu

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Carbon Nanotube ◽

Electrochemical Sensors ◽

Direct Electron Transfer ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Electrochemical Sensing ◽

Sensing Applications ◽

Biomedical Systems ◽

Good Biocompatibility ◽

And Chemical Properties

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received considerable attention in the field of electrochemical sensing, due to their unique structural, electronic and chemical properties, for instance, unique tubular nanostructure, large specific surface, excellent conductivity, modifiable sidewall, high conductivity, good biocompatibility, and so on. Here, we tried to give a comprehensive review on some important aspects of the applications of CNT-based electrochemical sensors in biomedical systems, including the electrochemical nature of CNTs, the methods for dispersing CNTs in solution, the approaches to the immobilization of functional CNT sensing films on electrodes, and the extensive biomedical applications of the CNT-based electrochemical sensors. In the last section, we mainly focused on the applications of CNT-based electrochemical sensors in the analysis of various biological substances and drugs, the methods for constructing enzyme-based electrochemical biosensors and the direct electron transfer of redox proteins on CNTs. Because several crucial factors (e.g., the surface properties of carbon nanotubes, the methods for constructing carbon nanotube electrodes and the manners for electrochemical sensing applications) predominated the analytical performances of carbon nanotube electrodes, a systematical comprehension of the related knowledge was essential to the acquaintance, mastery and development of carbon nanotube-based electrochemical sensors.

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Recent Advancements in Polythiophene-Based Materials and Their Biomedical, Geno Sensor and DNA Detection

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22136850 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 6850

Author(s):

Seyyed Mojtaba Mousavi ◽

Seyyed Alireza Hashemi ◽

Sonia Bahrani ◽

Khadije Yousefi ◽

Gity Behbudi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Engineering ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

The Novel ◽

Electrode Coating ◽

Effective Response ◽

Hiv Drugs ◽

New Generation ◽

New Compounds ◽

Anti Hiv

In this review, the unique properties of intrinsically conducting polymer (ICP) in biomedical engineering fields are summarized. Polythiophene and its valuable derivatives are known as potent materials that can broadly be applied in biosensors, DNA, and gene delivery applications. Moreover, this material plays a basic role in curing and promoting anti-HIV drugs. Some of the thiophene’s derivatives were chosen for different experiments and investigations to study their behavior and effects while binding with different materials and establishing new compounds. Many methods were considered for electrode coating and the conversion of thiophene to different monomers to improve their functions and to use them for a new generation of novel medical usages. It is believed that polythiophenes and their derivatives can be used in the future as a substitute for many old-fashioned ways of creating chemical biosensors polymeric materials and also drugs with lower side effects yet having a more effective response. It can be noted that syncing biochemistry with biomedical engineering will lead to a new generation of science, especially one that involves high-efficiency polymers. Therefore, since polythiophene can be customized with many derivatives, some of the novel combinations are covered in this review.

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Strategies for Vaccination: Conventional Vaccine Approaches Versus New-Generation Strategies in Combination with Adjuvants

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13020140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 140

Author(s):

Abdellatif Bouazzaoui ◽

Ahmed A. H. Abdellatif ◽

Faisal A. Al-Allaf ◽

Neda M. Bogari ◽

Saied Al-Dehlawi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Vectors ◽

Protein Production ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Effective Vaccine ◽

The Novel ◽

Research Teams ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Rapid Spread ◽

New Generation ◽

Conventional Vaccine

The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has raised significant economic, social, and psychological concerns. The rapid spread of the virus, coupled with the absence of vaccines and antiviral treatments for SARS-CoV-2, has galvanized a major global endeavor to develop effective vaccines. Within a matter of just a few months of the initial outbreak, research teams worldwide, adopting a range of different strategies, embarked on a quest to develop effective vaccine that could be effectively used to suppress this virulent pathogen. In this review, we describe conventional approaches to vaccine development, including strategies employing proteins, peptides, and attenuated or inactivated pathogens in combination with adjuvants (including genetic adjuvants). We also present details of the novel strategies that were adopted by different research groups to successfully transfer recombinantly expressed antigens while using viral vectors (adenoviral and retroviral) and non-viral delivery systems, and how recently developed methods have been applied in order to produce vaccines that are based on mRNA, self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), and trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA). Moreover, we discuss the methods that are being used to enhance mRNA stability and protein production, the advantages and disadvantages of different methods, and the challenges that are encountered during the development of effective vaccines.

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Utilising Commercially Fabricated Printed Circuit Boards as an Electrochemical Biosensing Platform

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi12070793 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 793

Author(s):

Uroš Zupančič ◽

Joshua Rainbow ◽

Pedro Estrela ◽

Despina Moschou

Keyword(s):

Printed Circuit Boards ◽

Electrochemical Sensors ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Electrochemical Sensing ◽

Label Free ◽

Circuit Boards ◽

Printed Circuit ◽

Sensing Applications ◽

Electrochemical Biosensing ◽

Pre Treatment

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) offer a promising platform for the development of electronics-assisted biomedical diagnostic sensors and microsystems. The long-standing industrial basis offers distinctive advantages for cost-effective, reproducible, and easily integrated sample-in-answer-out diagnostic microsystems. Nonetheless, the commercial techniques used in the fabrication of PCBs produce various contaminants potentially degrading severely their stability and repeatability in electrochemical sensing applications. Herein, we analyse for the first time such critical technological considerations, allowing the exploitation of commercial PCB platforms as reliable electrochemical sensing platforms. The presented electrochemical and physical characterisation data reveal clear evidence of both organic and inorganic sensing electrode surface contaminants, which can be removed using various pre-cleaning techniques. We demonstrate that, following such pre-treatment rules, PCB-based electrodes can be reliably fabricated for sensitive electrochemical biosensors. Herein, we demonstrate the applicability of the methodology both for labelled protein (procalcitonin) and label-free nucleic acid (E. coli-specific DNA) biomarker quantification, with observed limits of detection (LoD) of 2 pM and 110 pM, respectively. The proposed optimisation of surface pre-treatment is critical in the development of robust and sensitive PCB-based electrochemical sensors for both clinical and environmental diagnostics and monitoring applications.

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