Biosensors are devices that detect the presence of microbials such as bacteria, viruses or a range biomolecules, including proteins, enzymes, DNA and RNA. For example, they are routinely applied for monitoring the glucose concentration in blood, quality analysis of fresh and waste water and for food control. Nanomaterials are ideal candidates for building sensor devces: where in just a few molecules can alter the properties so drastically that these changes may be easily detected by optical, electrical or chemical means. Recent advantages have radically increased the sensitivity of nanomaterial-based biosensors, making it possible to detect one particular molecule against a background of billions of others. Focusing on the materials suitable for biosensor applications, such as nanoparticles, quantum dots, meso- and nanoporous materials and nanotbues, this text enables the reader to prepare the respective nanomaterials for use in actual devices by appropriate functionalization, surface processing or directed self-assembly. The emphasis throughout is on electrochemical, optical and mechancial detection methods, leading to solutions for today's most challenging tasks. The result is a reference for researchers and developers, disseminating first-hand information on which nanomaterial is best suited to a particular application - and why.
About the Author
Dr. Songjun Li currently serves as president of the International Association of Advanced Materials and Editor-in-Chief of the international Journal Advanced Materials Letters. He is also Chair of the 1st International Congress on Advanced Materials, 13-16 May 2011, Jinan, China. Since his PhD in polymer chemistry, received from Chinese Academy of Sciences, his scientific interests focus on the chemistry of biosensors and molecularly imprinted polymers. Dr. Li was appointed by the Central China Normal University as an associate professor of chemistry in 2005. He was further appointed as an invited professor by the University of Jinan (China) in 2009 and a part-time professor by Jiangsu University in 2010. He is currently the specially appointed professor in the University of Allahabad (India).
Jagdish Singh is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at NDSU College of Pharmacy, North Dakota, USA, and Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS). His research efforts focus on the mechanistic studies for developing and testing novel methods to deliver biotechnology-derived molecules. Jagdish Singh received twice the NDSU College of Pharmacy Researcher of the Year awards and was recognized with the Fred Waldron Research Award in 2002 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to research and creative activities at NDSU.
Dr. He Li, associated editor for Advanced Materials Letters, is an associate Professor of Chemistry in the School of Medical and Life Sciences at University of Jinan (UJN), China. He got his PhD degree in 2004 in Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Subsequently, he was appointed by UJN as an associate professor with research interests in biosensor and nanomedicine. He worked as the dean of Pharmaceutical Engineering Department of UJN since 2007.
Ipsita A. Banerjee is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Fordham University, New York, USA. She did her Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut, USA and Postdoctoral research from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana and from Hunter College, City University of New York in Bionanotechnology. Her research efforts are geared toward the study of molecular self-assembly and formation of supramolecular nanostructures for the development of biomaterials for tissue-engineering, and biosensors particularly for examining cellular interactions in vitro. Efforts are also on going for the green-synthesis of nanoparticles for optoelectronics applications.
