Prof. Arben Merkoçi is guest editor of a special issue of SMALL: 'Advanced Materials for Biosensors'

by Virginia Greco

A selection of research and review papers have been collected in this special issue to provide an overview of some of the most recent and interesting developments in the field of biosensing, with a particular emphasis on the advantages provided by new materials and nanotechnology.

A special issue of the journal Small dedicated to ‘Advanced Materials for Biosensors’ is to be published soon, with ICREA Prof. Arben Merkoçi, leader of the ICN2 Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group, as guest editor and author of the editorial for this issue. In addition, two of the contributions –"An Artificial Miniaturized Peroxidase for Signal Amplification in Lateral Flow Immunoassays," and "The Cleanroom-Free, Cheap, and Rapid Fabrication of Nanoelectrodes with Low zM Limits of Detection"— were authored or co-authored by members of Prof. Merkoçi’s group.

Through seventeen research and review articles, the issue provides several examples of recent cutting-edge developments in biosensing technologies, focusing in particular on the central role played by advanced materials in enhancing their performance and expanding their applications. Biosensors, which utilise biological or synthetic receptors to identify the analyte of interest and a transducer to transform the receptor’s response into a measurable signal, have become key for applications in a variety of fields, from healthcare to environmental surveillance, to food and water quality monitoring.

The studies selected for this issue showcase cases where the specific properties of advanced materials and related phenomena provide concrete benefits in terms of increased performance, cost-effectiveness, ease of use and more. Applications presented include wearable biosensors, implants, and platforms for non-invasive biomarker monitoring. Some of the proposed advances involve single molecule detection with CRISPR technology, artificial peroxidases, and the use of 2D materials such as MXene and graphene in cancer and antibiotic detection.

In addition, the emerging use of machine learning and deep learning techniques, as well as the integration of biosensors with new communication tools, IoT and AI technologies, demonstrates how the synergy of new computing and telecommunication technologies with innovative biosensing platforms can lead to radical transformations in real-time diagnostics and monitoring, healthcare, and environmental management.

This special issue serves as a valuable resource, highlighting ongoing research activities and their impact on the field. Readers are invited to explore these articles, which showcase innovative contributions from different research groups around the world.

Reference articles:

Emilia Renzi, Andrew Piper, Flavia Nastri, Arben Merkoçi and Angela Lombardi, An Artificial Miniaturized Peroxidase for Signal Amplification in Lateral Flow Immunoassays. Small 2023, 2207949. DOI: 1002/smll.202207949
Gabriel Maroli, Vernalyn Abarintos, Andrew Piper and Arben Merkoçi, The Cleanroom-Free, Cheap, and Rapid Fabrication of Nanoelectrodes with Low zM Limits of Detection. Small 2023, 2302136. DOI: 1002/smll.202302136

Image: Biosensors are analytical devices that contain a biological element, such as DNA, in close contact with a transducer that is able to transform the receptor’s response while recognising an analyte into a measurable signal. Advances in the field of materials as transducers, particularly nanomaterials, are playing a crucial role in the development of brand-new biosensors or improving the performance of the existing ones. [Credit: Dr Daniel Quesada & DALL-E2]