Transition metal dichalgogenides such as MoS2 have recently emerged as hot two-dimensional (2D) materials due to their superior electronic and catalytic properties. Recently, we have reported the usefulness of MoS2 nanosheets toward the electrochemical detection of neurotransmitters and glucose (Narayanan et al 2014 Nanotechnology 25 335702). Furthermore, there are reports available in the literature that demonstrate the usefulness of MoS2 nanosheets for biosensing and energy storage applications (Zhu et al 2013 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135 5998-6001; Pumera and Loo 2014 Trends Anal. Chem. 61 49-53; Lee et al 2014 Sci. Rep. 4 7352; Stephenson et al 2014 Energy Environ. Sci. 7 209-31). Understanding the cytotoxic effect of any material is very important prior to employing them for any in vivo biological applications such as implantable sensors, chips, or carriers for drug delivery and cell imaging purposes. Herein, we report the cytotoxicity of the MoS2 nanosheets based on the cytotoxic assay results and electrical impedance analysis using rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) and rat adrenal medulla endothelial cells (RAMEC). Our results indicated that the MoS2 nanosheets synthesized in our work are safe 2D nanosheets for futuristic biomedical applications.

A novel device combining electrochemical and colorimetric detection is developed for the rapid measurement of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a DNA oxidative damage biomarker. The device takes advantage of the speed and low cost of the conventional strip test as well as the high reliability and accuracy of electrochemical assay. Competitive immunoreactions were performed on the lateral flow strip, and the captured 8-OHdG on the control line was determined by chronoamperometric measurement with carbon nanotubes paper as the working electrode. At the same time, the color intensity of the test line was measured by a scanner and analyzed by the ImageJ software. The device was able to detect 8-OHdG concentrations in PBS as low as 2.07 ng mL−1 by the colorimetric method and 3.11 ng mL−1 by the electrochemical method. Furthermore, the device was successfully utilized to detect 8-OHdG in urine with a detection limit of 5.76 ng mL−1 (colorimetric method) and 8.85 ng mL−1 (electrochemical method), respectively. In conclusion, the integrated device with dual detections can provide a rapid, visual, quantitative and feasible detection method for 8-OHdG. The integration of these two methods holds two major advantages over tests based on single method. Firstly, it can provide double confidence on the same assay. Secondly, by involving two methods that differ in principle, the integration could potentially avoid false results coming from one method. In addition, these methods do not require expensive equipment or trained personnel, deeming it suitable for use as a simple, economical, portable field kit for on-site monitoring of 8-OHdG in a variety of clinical settings.

Nanomaterials, because of their tunable properties and performances, have been utilized extensively in everyday life related consumable products and technology. On exposure, beyond physiological range, nanomaterials cause health risks via affecting the function of organisms, genomic systems, and even central nervous system. Thus, new analytical approaches for nanotoxicity assessment to verify the feasibility of nanomaterials for future use are in demand. The conventional analytical techniques, such as spectrophotometric assay-based techniques usually require a lengthy and time-consuming process and many times produces false positives, and many times cannot be implemented at a single cell level measurement for studying cell behavior without interference of their surrounding environment. Hence, there is demand of a precise, accurate, sensitive assessment for toxicity using single cell. Recently, due to advantages of automation of fluids and minimization of human error, the integration of cell-on-a-chip (CoC) with microfluidic system is in practice for nanotoxicity assessments. This review explains nanotoxicity and assessment approaches with advantages/limitations and new approaches to overcome the confines of traditional techniques. Recent advances in nanotoxicity assessment using CoC integrated with microfluidic system are also discussed in this review, which may be of use for nanotoxicity assessment and diagnostics.

Paper-based analytical devices have been widely used for biomedical, environmental and food-quality testing. This review focuses on paper-based tests for biomarkers and bacterial detection with a brief introduction about various fabrication techniques and designs, biological and nonbiological probes and detection methods. Paper is relatively cheap and available in abundance. Moreover, properties of paper such as it being disposable, easy to use and store, and that it is easy to transport and modify draw significant attention to it as a platform for the development of paper-based analytical devices. These traits make paper-based analytical devices a strong candidate in point-of-care devices for rapid and economical testing near the site of patients.

The traditional in vitro nanotoxicity assessment approaches are conducted on a monolayer of cell culture. However, to study a cell response without interference from the neighbor cells, a single cell study is necessary; especially in cases of neuronal, cancerous, and stem cells, wherein an individual cell's fate is often not explained by the whole cell population. Nonetheless, a single cell does not mimic the actual in vivo environment and lacks important information regarding cell communication with its microenvironment. Both a single cell and a cell population provide important and complementary information about cells' behaviors. In this research, we explored nanotoxicity assessment on a single cell and a small cell population using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. We demonstrated a controlled capture of PC12 cells in different-sized microwells (to capture a different number of cells) using a combined method of surface functionalization and dielectrophoresis. The present approach provides a rapid nanotoxicity response as compared to other conventional approaches. This is the first study, to our knowledge, which demonstrates a comparative response of a single cell and small cell colonies on the same MEMS platform, when exposed to metaloxide nanoparticles. We demonstrated that the microenvironment of a cell is also accountable for cells' behaviors and their responses to nanomaterials. The results of this experimental study open up a new hypothesis to be tested for identifying the role of cell communication in spreading toxicity in a cell population.