{"title":"Role of Polymeric Stabilizing Agents as a Molecular Spacer in Gold Nanoparticle-Mediated FRET-Based Biosensing.","authors":"Atul Kumar Tiwari, Roger J Narayan","doi":"10.3390/bios15090593","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090593","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In FRET-based sensing, the interaction between the analytes and metal nanoparticles is significantly regulated by the physicochemical characteristics of the nanoparticles, such as their shape, size, zeta potential, surface-linked ligands, doping, pH of the medium, particle surface roughness, and lattice structure (atomic arrangements). During the synthesis process, to avert the aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), synthetic polymers (including polyethylene glycol, polyethyleneimine, and poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone) and natural polymers (such as chitosan, starch, gellan, welan, and κ-carrageenan) are frequently employed for stabilization. This stabilization is accomplished through mechanisms such as steric repulsion and electrostatic stabilization, which form a protective layer around AuNPs. These stabilizing polymers act as molecular spacers in nanoparticle-based FRET sensing, enabling the precise regulation of the molecular distance between the acceptor and donor fluorophore molecules. This regulation enhances the efficiency and sensitivity of FRET assays. By modifying the length and flexibility of the spacer polymer, researchers can adjust the spacing between fluorophores, ensuring effective energy transfer and the accurate detection of target molecules. However, there is a limited understanding of the role and broad application of these molecular spacers in nanoparticle-mediated FRET-based sensing of various analytes. Consequently, this review explores different fundamental aspects of FRET, polymeric stabilization of gold nanoparticles, and various polymeric spacers in FRET-based sensing, along with the recent advancements and challenges associated with this approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natalia Lorela Paul, Catalin Ovidiu Popa, Rodica Elena Ionescu
{"title":"Natural Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Produced by Aquatic Magnetotactic Bacteria as Ideal Nanozymes for Nano-Guided Biosensing Platforms-A Systematic Review.","authors":"Natalia Lorela Paul, Catalin Ovidiu Popa, Rodica Elena Ionescu","doi":"10.3390/bios15090590","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090590","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In response to the ongoing challenges associated with natural enzymes, their high production costs, low stability and limited functionality; nanozymes have rapidly emerged as versatile alternative. Such nanocatalysts, based on nanomaterials and nanostructures, offer remarkable tunability of physicochemical properties and excellent durability, and adapt themselves effectively to the requirements of modern biotechnological applications. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the use of naturally occurring iron oxide nanoparticles, produced by magnetotactic bacteria, and to highlight their emerging role as key elements in the development of the new generation of nano-guided biosensors. It provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of publications in the Web of Science database between 2022 and August 2025, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The aim was to assess the current state of the art and identify knowledge gaps in the exploration and application of magnetotactic bacteria as natural and sustainable sources in the design of next-generation biosensors. The natural nanoparticles, formed through biological processes, represent a unique and sustainable alternative to synthetic nanoparticles, offering naturally mimetic enzymatic activity, high biocompatibility, and exceptional stability. This approach opens up revolutionary perspectives in the field of biosensors, proposing a new class of functional materials, iron nanoparticles of biological origin, capable of fundamentally changing the performance, sustainability and reliability of future nanoenzymatic sensing platforms.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467078/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Prashanthi Kovur, Krishna M Kovur, Dorsa Yahya Rayat, David S Wishart
{"title":"POC Sensor Systems and Artificial Intelligence-Where We Are Now and Where We Are Going?","authors":"Prashanthi Kovur, Krishna M Kovur, Dorsa Yahya Rayat, David S Wishart","doi":"10.3390/bios15090589","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090589","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Integration of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) into point-of-care (POC) sensor systems represents a transformative advancement in healthcare. This integration enables sophisticated data analysis and real-time decision-making in emergency and intensive care settings. AI and ML algorithms can process complex biomedical data, improve diagnostic accuracy, and enable early disease detection for better patient outcomes. Predictive analytics in POC devices supports proactive healthcare by analyzing data to forecast health issues and facilitating early intervention and personalized treatment. This review covers the key areas of ML and AI integration in POC devices, including data analysis, pattern recognition, real-time decision support, predictive analytics, personalization, automation, and workflow optimization. Examples of current POC devices that use ML and AI include AI-powered blood glucose monitors, portable imaging devices, wearable cardiac monitors, AI-enhanced infectious disease detection, and smart wound care sensors are also discussed. The review further explores new directions for POC sensors and ML integration, including mental health monitoring, nutritional monitoring, metabolic health tracking, and decentralized clinical trials (DCTs). We also examined the impact of integrating ML and AI into POC devices on healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467669/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Robust Pt/Au Composite Nanostructures for Abiotic Glucose Sensing.","authors":"Asghar Niyazi, Ashley Linden, Mirella Di Lorenzo","doi":"10.3390/bios15090588","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective glucose monitoring is paramount for patients with diabetes to effectively manage their condition and prevent health complications. Electrochemical sensors for glucose monitoring have key advantages over other systems, including cost-effectiveness, miniaturisation and portability, enabling the design of compact and wearable devices. Typically, enzymes are used in these sensors, with the limitations of poor stability and high cost. In alternative, this study reports the development of a gold and platinum composite nanostructured electrode and its testing as an abiotic (enzyme-free) electrocatalyst for glucose oxidation. The electrode consists of a film of highly porous gold electrodeposited onto gold-plated electrodes on a printed circuit board (PCB), which is coated with polyaniline decorated with platinum nanoparticles. The resulting nanocomposite structure shows a sensitivity towards glucose as high as 95.12 ± 2.54 µA mM<sup>-1</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup>, nearly twice that of the highly porous gold electrodes, and excellent stability in synthetic interstitial fluid over extended testing, thus demonstrating robustness. Accordingly, this study lays the groundwork for the next generation of durable, selective, and affordable abiotic glucose biosensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467538/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review of Pulsation Signal Detection and Applications in Dynamic Photoacoustic Imaging.","authors":"Wenhan Zheng, Chuqin Huang, Jun Xia","doi":"10.3390/bios15090591","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090591","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pulsatile signal detection plays an important role in monitoring various physiological parameters, primarily heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. Their applications range from clinical settings to personal health and wellness monitoring. PPG (photoplethysmography) can provide non-invasive optical measurements to detect blood volume changes in peripheral tissues. Yet, it suffers from low spatial resolution to precisely detect the pulsatile signal originating over 2 mm in human tissue. Ultrasound (US) provides a deep detectable range compared to the pure optical method. However, its low contrast to red blood cells and cluster artifacts makes it only detect the indirect pulsation from the surrounding tissue of blood vessels. Recent advances in PA imaging show its capability to precisely measure pulsatile signals originating from blood vessels in deep regions (over 10 mm) and its potential to accurately record blood oxygen saturation with high spatial and temporal resolution. This review article summarizes studies on photoacoustic (PA) pulsatile signal monitoring, highlights the technical advances, and compares it against optical and ultrasonic approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467494/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Syed Abdul Moiz, Mohammed Saleh Alshaikh, Ahmed N M Alahmadi
{"title":"Organic Bioelectronics: Diversity of Electronics Along with Biosciences.","authors":"Syed Abdul Moiz, Mohammed Saleh Alshaikh, Ahmed N M Alahmadi","doi":"10.3390/bios15090587","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090587","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review article provides an introductory overview of organic bioelectronics, focusing on the creation of electrical devices that use specialized carbon-based semiconducting materials to interact successfully with biological processes. These organic materials demonstrate flexibility, biocompatibility, and the capacity to carry both electrical and ionic impulses, making them an ideal choice for connecting human tissue with electronic technology. The review study examines diverse materials, such as the conductive polymers Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and Polyaniline (PANI), along with critical devices like organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), which are exceptionally efficient for sensitive biosensing applications. Significant applications include implanted neural interfaces for the brain and nerves, wearable health monitoring, tissue engineering scaffolds that facilitate tissue repair, and sophisticated drug delivery systems. The review acknowledges current challenges, including long-term stability and safety, while envisioning a future where these technologies revolutionize healthcare, human-machine interaction, and environmental monitoring via continuous multidisciplinary innovation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467551/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John Paolo Ramoso, Manoochehr Rasekh, Wamadeva Balachandran
{"title":"Graphene-Based Biosensors: Enabling the Next Generation of Diagnostic Technologies-A Review.","authors":"John Paolo Ramoso, Manoochehr Rasekh, Wamadeva Balachandran","doi":"10.3390/bios15090586","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090586","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material with a hexagonal lattice structure, possesses remarkable properties. Exceptional electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and high surface area that make it a powerful platform for biosensing applications. Its sp<sup>2</sup>-hybridised network facilitates efficient electron mobility and enables diverse surface functionalisation through bio-interfacing. This review highlights the core detection mechanisms in graphene-based biosensors. Optical sensing techniques, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), benefit significantly from graphene's strong light-matter interaction, which enhances signal sensitivity. Although graphene itself lacks intrinsic piezoelectricity, its integration with piezoelectric substrates can augment the performance of piezoelectric biosensors. In electrochemical sensing, graphene-based electrodes support rapid electron transfer, enabling fast response times across a range of techniques, including impedance spectroscopy, amperometry, and voltammetry. Graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs), which leverage graphene's high carrier mobility, offer real-time, label-free, and highly sensitive detection of biomolecules. In addition, the review also explores multiplexed detection strategies vital for point-of-care diagnostics. Graphene's nanoscale dimensions and tunable surface chemistry facilitate both array-based configurations and the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers. This adaptability makes graphene an ideal material for compact, scalable, and accurate biosensor platforms. Continued advancements in graphene biofunctionalisation, sensing modalities, and integrated multiplexing are driving the development of next-generation biosensors with superior sensitivity, selectivity, and diagnostic reliability.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467994/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Head-Specific Spatial Spectra of Electroencephalography Explained: A Sphara and BEM Investigation.","authors":"Uwe Graichen, Sascha Klee, Patrique Fiedler, Lydia Hofmann, Jens Haueisen","doi":"10.3390/bios15090585","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive biosensing platform with a spatial-frequency content that is of significant relevance for a multitude of aspects in the neurosciences, ranging from optimal spatial sampling of the EEG to the design of spatial filters and source reconstruction. In the past, simplified spherical head models had to be used for this analysis. We propose a method for spatial frequency analysis in EEG for realistically shaped volume conductors, and we exemplify our method with a five-compartment Boundary Element Method (BEM) model of the head. We employ the recently developed technique for spatial harmonic analysis (Sphara), which allows for spatial Fourier analysis on arbitrarily shaped surfaces in space. We first validate and compare Sphara with the established method for spatial Fourier analysis on spherical surfaces, discrete spherical harmonics, using a spherical volume conductor. We provide uncertainty limits for Sphara. We derive relationships between the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the required spatial sampling of the EEG. Our results demonstrate that conventional 10-20 sampling might misestimate EEG power by up to 50%, and even 64 electrodes might misestimate EEG power by up to 15%. Our results also provide insights into the targeting problem of transcranial electric stimulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467547/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Vivo Study on the Safe Use of a Novel Intraoperative Sensing Tool for Tissue Stiffness Assessment in Endoscopic Surgery.","authors":"Georgios Violakis, Pantelis Antonakis, Emmanouil Kritsotakis, Theodoros Kozonis, Leonidas Chardalias, Apostolos Papalois, Georgios Agrogiannis, Effrosyni Kampouroglou, Nikolaos Vardakis, Stylianos Kostakis, Eleni Athanasaki, Zhenyu Zhang, Martin Angelmahr, Manousos Konstadoulakis, Panagiotis Polygerinos","doi":"10.3390/bios15090581","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090581","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A novel endoscopic palpation tool (EPT), designed for tactile and stiffness sensing using fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) was evaluated in a surgical environment for intraoperative safety and effectiveness. The EPT consisted of four FBGs arranged in a cross pattern and embedded within an elastic, hollow, silicone hemispherical dome designed to deform upon contact with soft tissue. The EPT was employed to scan both in vivo and ex vivo tissue samples. Monitoring of porcine vital signs during minimally invasive and open surgical procedures showed no significant changes during use of the EPT. Perioperative blood tests including inflammatory markers and liver and renal function studies were unremarkable. Histopathological analyses of tissues involved (liver, spleen, bowel, and abdominal wall) showed no evidence of inflammation, necrosis, or tissue damage, confirming the device's biocompatibility. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting in vivo stiffness measurements using an FBG-based EPT. The probe successfully distinguished between soft and hard tissue regions' relative stiffness. Furthermore, successive measurements on liver samples demonstrated the device's ability to generate stiffness maps, enabling clear visualization of spatial variation in tissue stiffness.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Bluetooth-Enabled Electrochemical Platform Based on <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> Yeast Cells for Copper Detection.","authors":"Ehtisham Wahid, Ohiemi Benjamin Ocheja, Antonello Longo, Enrico Marsili, Massimo Trotta, Matteo Grattieri, Cataldo Guaragnella, Nicoletta Guaragnella","doi":"10.3390/bios15090583","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15090583","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Copper contamination in the environment poses significant risks to both soil and human health, making the need for reliable monitoring methods crucial. In this study, we report the use of the EmStat Pico module as potentiostat to develop a portable electrochemical biosensor for copper detection, utilizing yeast <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> cells immobilized on a polydopamine (PDA)-coated screen-printed electrode (SPE). By optimizing the sensor design with a horizontal assembly and the volume reduction in the electrolyte solution, we achieved a 10-fold increase in current density with higher range of copper concentrations (0-300 µM CuSO<sub>4</sub>) compared to traditional (or previous) vertical dipping setups. Additionally, the use of genetically engineered copper-responsive yeast cells further improved sensor performance, with the recombinant strain showing a 1.7-fold increase in current density over the wild-type strain. The biosensor demonstrated excellent reproducibility (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> > 0.95) and linearity over a broad range of copper concentrations, making it suitable for precise quantitative analysis. To further enhance portability and usability, a Bluetooth-enabled electrochemical platform was integrated with a web application for real-time data analysis, enabling on-site monitoring and providing a reliable, cost-effective tool for copper detection in real world settings. This system offers a promising solution for addressing the growing need for efficient environmental monitoring, especially in agriculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467965/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}