Research Article
Claudio Nicolini, Nicola Lu
Abstract
This overview describes the optimal implementation and utilization of different, newly conceived nanosensors for human biosafety purposes, exploiting a variety of methods (amperometric, conductometric, spectrometric and nanogravimetric) and a wide range of nanocomposites, genes and recombinant enzymes. Namely, while biological nanosensors were designed based on Nucleic Acid Programmable Protein Arrays (NAPPA), with or without SNAP-tag, and on Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) thin films of recombinant laccase (Rigidoporus lignosus, formerly known as Rigidoporus microporus), organic nanosensors were based on matrices of calcium oxide (CaO) and on carbon nanotubes - either multi-walled (MWNTs) or single-walled (SWNTs) - embedded in poly(o-methylaniline) (POTO). Special attention was paid both to detecting useful and relevant substances (such as carbon dioxide, phenols and phenolic derivatives and compounds) and designing devices and molecules for human biosafety like vaccines and others, by means of amperometry, conductimetry, mass spectrometry (MS), and other label-free technologies such as quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM_D).