New Trends in Fluorescent Nanomaterials-Based Bio/Chemical Sensors for Neurohormones Detection─A Review

Abstract

The study of neurotransmitters and stress hormones allows the determination of indicators of the current stress load in the body. These species also create a proper strategy of stress protection. Nowadays, stress is a general factor that affects the population, and it may cause a wide range of serious disorders. Abnormalities in the level of neurohormones, caused by chronic psychological stress, can occur in, for instance, corporate employees, health care workers, shift workers, policemen, or firefighters. Here we present a new nanomaterials-based sensors technology development for the determination of neurohormones. We focus on fluorescent sensors/biosensors that utilize nanomaterials, such as quantum dots or carbon nanomaterials. Nanomaterials, owing to their diversity in size and shape, have been attracting increasing attention in sensing or bioimaging. They possess unique properties, such as fluorescent, electronic, or photoluminescent features. In this Review, we summarize new trends in adopting nanomaterials for applications in fluorescent sensors for neurohormone monitoring.

Carbon Dots and Their Polymeric Nanocomposites: Insight into Their Synthesis, Photoluminescence Mechanisms, and Recent Trends in Sensing Applications

“…The idea for optical sensor systems can be based on the major benefit of employing these fluorescent nanoparticles, such as altering their optical characteristics like intensity, emission color, emission kinetics, or polarization. Fluorescent nanomaterials may be used to detect analytes via a variety of techniques, such as nonradiative Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), emission quenching from nanomaterials, and increments in emission as a result of the analyte passivating the surface of the nanomaterial . Comparing these fluorescent nanomaterial-based sensors to other small molecule-based ones, there are several benefits that can be obtained.…”

“…Silicon-based nanomaterials, such as silicon nanocrystals, also exhibit fluorescent properties and demonstrate efficient light emission in the visible and infrared region, which is valuable for silicon-based optoelectronics. Metal nanoclusters are small assemblies of a few several hundred atoms, and these nanoclusters exhibit strong fluorescence emission due to quantum size effects and surface plasmon resonance . CDs, CQDs, and GQDs are carbon-based nanomaterials that exhibit bright fluorescence emission, and the fluorescence properties of these dots basically arise from the presence of sp 2 carbon domains and functional surface groups.…”

pH sensing, bioimaging, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy using polyethyleneimine coated carbon dots and gold nanoparticles

“…Due to their superior chemical and optical characteristics, fluorescent nanomaterial-based sensing and imaging are efficient analytical techniques that have been recently implemented and are now used in many fields. 1 They have drawn more interest recently than traditional fluorophores because they have a plethora of applications for optical bioimaging, medical diagnostics, photocatalysis, and photovoltaic systems. These nanomaterials have several advantages over conventional fluorescent molecules, including photostability, controllable morphology and size, and the capacity to carry out multiple activities.…”

Bioimaging based on Poly(ethylenimine)-Coated Carbon Dots and Gold Nanoparticles for pH Sensing and Metal Enhanced Fluorescence

“…Fluorescent nanomaterial-based sensing and imaging are effective analytical methods that have recently been developed and are currently used in many fields due to their superior chemical and optical properties. , Nanomaterials have been gaining popularity in sensing , and bioimaging , due to their versatility in size and shape they are currently receiving more attention than conventional fluorophores . In comparison to typical fluorescent molecules, these nanomaterials have several advantages, including photostability, tunable morphology and size, and the potential to perform several tasks .…”

“…Fluorescent nanomaterial-based sensing and imaging 1 are effective analytical methods that have recently been developed and are currently used in many fields due to their superior chemical and optical properties. 2,3 Nanomaterials have been gaining popularity in sensing 4,5 and bioimaging 5,6 due to their versatility in size and shape they are currently receiving more attention than conventional fluorophores.…”