Biosensors – Where are the Limits
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| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The ability to detect very low concentrations of analytes is of fundamental importance. In many critical situations, even few molecules of toxins can be harmful, individual pathogenic microbes initiate infectious disease, and traces of cancer markers indicate beginning of malignant transformation. From the suitable approaches, single-molecule immunochemical sensors and assays provide the detection of individual analyte molecules reaching the ultimate sensitivity in analytical chemistry. Immunosensors are being developed to enhance the sensing capabilities, lower limits of detection and provide point-of-care mode of use with short analysis times. The promising approaches recently initiated in our laboratory include digital affinity sensing - single-molecule assays (or better single-analyte to include also viruses, bacteria and cells), combination of optical and electrochemical transduction (electrochemiluminescence, photoelectrochemical conversion), and inorganic nanocrystals for either luminescent labelling (quantum dots, photon up-conversion nanoparticles) or catalytic (Prussian blue) signal enhancement. Furthermore, advanced nanotools based on scanning probe microscopies allowed to touch and interface individual cells using nanomechanical biosensors, in combination with microelectrode arrays and fluorescence. This provides detailed information on the physiological state of patients-derived cells, allows to model disease progress at the cellular level and optimize medication leading to personalized medicine. In conclusion, the combination of biosensors with new tools and materials resulting from nanobiotechnology studies allowed to direct this field to new horizons. |
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