| Abstract |
The combination of biotechnology and nanotechnology has led to a tremendous
development of hybrid nanomaterials that combine the unique recognition, catalytic, and
inhibition properties of biomolecules, such as DNA/RNA, protein/enzyme, antigen/antibody,
whole cells, with the unique electronic, photonic, and catalytic properties of the nanoparticles,
nanowires or nanorods. Conjugation of biomolecules to nanoparticles has offered infinite
application possibilities to the field of nano-bio-technology.
The interest in nanomaterials comes from the fact that new properties are acquired at
this length scale and, equally important, that these properties change with their size or shape.
Nanomaterials are structures with at least one of their dimensions in the nanometer
scale (smaller than 100 nm), their physico-chemical properties differing substantially from
their bulk counterparts. A wide variety of nanoscale materials of different shapes, sizes and
compositions are now available, the huge interest in nanomaterials being driven by their many
desirable properties. In particular, the ability to tailor the size and structure and as a follow up,
the properties of nanomaterials, offers excellent perspectives for designing sensing systems
and enhancing the performance of the bioanalytical assay by providing an immobilization
platform and a stabilization matrix for biomolecules (proteins, enzymes, antibodies, nucleic
acids, etc.). No matter their composition (metallic nanoparticles, carbon based nanomaterials
or semiconductor quantum dots), shape (particles, rods, tubes, wires) or surface
functionalization (physical, chemical or biological), they have attracted the interest of
numerous research groups.
On the other hand, biomolecules are fascinating molecular structures that bring new
recognition, catalytic, transport and inhibition properties. Nanomaterials exhibit similar
dimensions to those of biomolecules, like proteins, enzymes, antibodies or DNA which
usually possess dimensions in the 2-20 nm range, rendering these two classes of materials
structurally compatible. The marriage of nanomaterials, like nanoparticles, with biomolecules
could provide different transduction mechanisms of biological phenomena for the
development of novel biosensors.
There are many fundamental features that render biomolecules suitable for
conjugation to nanomaterials. First and most important, their specificity for certain substrates
allows for self-assembly upon recognition. Many biomolecules possess more than one binding
site allowing for a three-dimensional assembly of nano-structures. They can be synthesized
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bearing a wide range of functionalities or even engineered genetically. Another very
important feature is that enzymes catalyze reactions without being consumed in the process
thus offering a reusable biosensing tool. And so on and so forth
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Development of optical and electrochemical biosensors based on Au MNPs and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots
