Aptasensors in Health, Environment and Food Safety Monitoring

Abstract

Biosensors have been developed using various types of sensing elements like biomacromolecules (viz. enzymes, antibodies, receptors, nucleic acids, etc.) organelles, tissues, intact cells of both microorganisms and higher organisms. A recent trend is the emergence of aptamers as sensing elements that has the potential to replace all the above ligands. This is possible due to the unique features of aptamers (sensitivity, specificity, reusability, stability, non-immunogenicity), which can be easily exploited in biosensor technology. Aptasensors are thus basically biosensors based on aptamers as ligand molecules. Here we review the various applications of aptasensors in health (specifically in diagnostics), food industry and environmental monitoring.

Graphene quantum dots in analytical science

“…At present, electrochemical and optical aptasensors prevail. Aptasensors have a greater potential than antibodies and can be useful for biomarker detection, cancer diagnosis, and detection of pathogens and small molecules to assure food safety and monitor environmental pollution [126].…”

An Electrochemical Impedimetric Aptasensing Platform for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Small Molecules Such as Chloramphenicol

“…Since the invention of SELEX methodology, aptamers are becoming increasingly important as a new class of recognition element within the field of biosensors [8,9]. Aptamers are single-stranded synthetic oligonucleic acids that bind with high affinity and specificity to target molecules.…”

Voltammetric aptasensors for protein disease biomarkers detection: A review

“…The electrochemical aptasensors can be applied in several areas such as health (specifically in clinical diagnostic and for therapeutic purposes), food industry and environmental monitoring for the detection of protein disease biomarkers, pathogens and small molecules, respectively (Hayat and Marty, 2014;Hong et al, 2012;Kim and Gu, 2014;Labib and Berezovski, 2014;Liu et al, 2012;Palchetti and Mascini, 2012;Sett et al, 2012). The application of electrochemical aptasensors for clinical diagnosis, particularly for the detection of protein disease biomarkers, which is an emergent field of research, is herein discussed as previously mentioned.…”