A mini-review on functional nucleic acids-based heavy metal ion detection

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) are increasingly utilized for heavy metal ion detection.
• Existing reviews often focus on specific FNA types or applications.
• There is a need for a comprehensive overview of integrated FNA-based sensing systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the main types of FNAs used for heavy metal ion detection.
• To detail lab-on-a-chip (LOC) platforms integrating FNAs for enhanced sensing.
• To discuss current challenges and future prospects in FNA-based heavy metal detection.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent publications on FNAs and heavy metal sensing.
• Categorization of FNAs based on their application in heavy metal detection.
• Classification of LOC systems incorporating FNAs into six distinct types.

Main Results:

• Four primary FNA types for heavy metal detection are identified.
• Six categories of integrated LOC systems (e.g., microfluidic, paper-based) are detailed.
• Sensing strategies, properties, advantages, and disadvantages of various FNA-based sensors are summarized.

Conclusions:

• FNA-based sensors, particularly integrated LOC systems, show significant promise for heavy metal detection.
• Further development is needed to address existing challenges and optimize performance.
• Future research should focus on improving automation, system integration, and real-world applicability.