25th anniversary article: label-free electrical biodetection using carbon nanostructures.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Nanostructures offer high surface-to-volume ratios and unique nanoscale properties for species detection.
• Carbon-based nanostructures, including sp(2)-carbon materials, are versatile for various dimensional preparations (0D, 1D, 2D).

Purpose of the Study:

• This review focuses on utilizing 1D carbon nanotubes and 2D graphene for detecting biologically relevant molecules.
• The review discusses label-free electrical detection strategies for biomolecules using carbon nanostructures.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of existing literature on carbon nanostructures for biosensing.
• Analysis of label-free electrical detection mechanisms for biomolecules.
• Discussion of chemical functionalization strategies for enhanced selectivity.

Main Results:

• Carbon nanotubes and graphene excel in label-free detection of biomolecules.
• Sensing operations can be performed without labels or complex reaction schemes.
• Chemical functionalization allows for high selectivity in carbon-based nanobiosensors.

Conclusions:

• Carbon-based nanobiosensors provide ultimate sensitivity for biomolecule detection.
• These sensors are poised to advance novel diagnostic tools.
• They offer opportunities for fundamental insights into single-molecule biomolecular interactions.