Editorial Board

Improving sensitivity in biosensors encompasses various strategies, including the development and utilization of new nanomaterials, bioreceptor advancement, sample preprocessing techniques, and enhancements to device structure. For example, Zhiyong Zhang et al. employed a field-effect transistor-based biosensor for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a lung cancer biomarker. In this innovative study, a wavy yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) dielectric layer was introduced, replacing the conventional flat dielectric layer, to enhance the biosensor's sensitivity. This wavy dielectric layer increased the sensor's capacitance by 50%, resulting in an extended detection range from 1 fg/mL to 1 ng/mL, with an impressive sensitivity of 72 ag/mL. Notably, the sensing platform demonstrated reliability even in the complex environment of fetal bovine serum, holding significant promise for early lung cancer screening (Fig. 1) [19].

Fig. 1. 
(a) Schematic of three-dimensional undulating FG CNT-FET biosensor. (b) SEM and AFM images of a CNT-FET biosensor with the major sensing regions and morphology of the undulating Y₂O₃. (c) SEM images of flattened Y₂O₃ layer. (d) SEM image of undulated Y₂O₃ layer. (e) Transfer curve evolution of the CNT-FET biosensor with a flat interface, recorded after the introduction of various CEA concentrations ranging from 1 fg/mL to 1 ng/mL. (f) Transfer curve evolution a CNT-FET biosensor with an undulating interface corresponding to different CEA concentrations (0, 1 fg/ mL, 10 fg/mL, 100 fg/mL, 1 pg/ mL, 10 pg/mL, 100 pg/ mL, and 1 ng/mL). (g) Calibration curves of the value (ΔI/I₀) vs CEA concentration using proposed FET biosensor with either an undulating interface (red) or flat interface (blue). (Reproduced from [19], with permission from ACS Publications, 2023.)

Sunkook Kim et al. developed a field-effect transistor (FET)-based biosensor for the detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a prostate cancer biomarker. However, the practical application of bio-FETs in this context is often hindered by issues related to reliability and low sensitivity. In their study, they presented a highly sensitive bio-FET by introducing nanoporous molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and incorporating a non-planar Al₂O₃ dielectric layer. These modifications reduced hysteresis to a narrow range of 0.44−1.9 V, significantly enhancing accuracy and data reliability. Furthermore, the subthreshold swing (SS) was minimized from 4.06−7.03 V/dec to 1.32−4.67 V/dec, and mobility was increased, resulting in the fabrication of a highly sensitive biosensor with a detection limit of 1 fg/ml. Utilizing this sensor, PSA was successfully and selectively detected in human serum during actual clinical trials, offering the prospect of label-free, rapid prostate cancer detection (Fig. 2) [20].

Fig. 2. 
(a) Schematic of concept and morphology of nanoporous MoS₂ FETs with non-planar Al₂O₃ 3D schematics of nanoporous MoS₂ surrounded by non-planar Al₂O₃ bio-FET. (b) Cross-sectional STEM micrograph (scale bar 50 nm). Various plots of (c) hysteresis, (d) SS, and (e) mobility of 25 FETs of nanoporous MoS₂ FET with non-planar Al₂O₃ and bare nanoporous MoS₂ FET. (f) Comparison of sensitivity (%) as a function of PSA concentration in nanoporous MoS₂ bio-FETs with non-planar Al₂O₃ and planar Al₂O₃ on pristine MoS₂ bio-FETs. (g) Selectivity for detecting PSA for nanoporous MoS2 bio-FETs with non-planar Al₂O₃ with potentially interfering proteins and hormones. (h) Sensitivity (%) as a function of PSA concentration in pure human serum media (Reproduced from [20] with permission from Wiley, 2023.)

Yu-Tao Li and colleagues have devised a novel approach by developing a dual needle biosensor utilizing CNT needle FETs and functionalized gates for the real-time monitoring of pH fluctuations in cerebrospinal fluid. To enhance the device's responsiveness to hydrogen ions, they modified the platinum electrode of the gate with polyaniline (PANI). Polyaniline polymers, rich in amine groups, exhibit changes in their electrical properties as the pH value fluctuates due to the protonation and deprotonation of these amine groups. In acidic solutions, PANI becomes doped with H, forming a highly conductive emeraldine salt, which, in turn, reduces the surface charge and increases surface potential [21]. Conversely, exposure to alkaline solutions neutralizes the trapped H by OH−, resulting in the reverse effect. This modification significantly enhanced the response to hydrogen ions from 27.3 to 53.7 mV/pH (pH range: 4−9). Additionally, the brain contains various ions and neurotransmitters during different activities. In their experiment, they investigated the reactivity of the dual needle biosensor with Na, K, Mg²⁺, DA, UA, Ach, Glu, and H. Although substances other than H were measured at significantly higher concentrations, they exhibited minimal reactivity, while H showed a substantial reaction. This confirmed the high selectivity of the dual needle biosensor. Moreover, they conducted pH measurements in rat cerebrospinal fluid using the developed sensor. By directly injecting NaH₂PO₄ and Na₂CO₃ into the rat brain to alter the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid, they observed a sharp increase in the corresponding current after injecting NaH₂PO₄, signifying a decrease in cerebrospinal fluid pH. Conversely, the current decreased when Na₂CO₃ was injected, indicating an increase in cerebrospinal fluid pH. In practical animal experiments, the biosensor successfully monitored real-time pH changes (Fig. 3) [22].

Fig. 3. 
(a) Schematic of a PANI/Pt-gated CNT-FET. The conventional electrolyte gate (Pt gate) is functionalized with a polyaniline membrane. (b) Output characteristic of bare Pt-gated CNT-FET (gray dashed lines) and a PAN/Pt-gated CNT-FET (orange lines). (c) Transfer characteristic of a bare Pt-gated CNT-FET (gray line) and a PANI/Pt-gated CNT-FET (orange line). (d) Calibration curve of the change in V_th variations and pH value of bare Pt-gated (gray points) and PAN/Pt-gated (color points) CNT-FET. V_th was extracted from the linear fits (black dashed lines) of the different transfer curves. (e) Selectivity measurement of dual-needle biosensor with the addition of a series of interferents. (f) Histogram of current change rates versus various interferents and H⁺. (g) Corresponding I_ds changes for 1 h stability measurement. (h) Schematic diagram of in vivo experiment. (i) Real-time current monitoring of pumped saline (black), NaH₂PO₄ (red), and Na₂CO₃ (blue) in rat brains using the dual-needle biosensor (Reproduced from [22], with permission form ACS publications, 2023)

Mariantonietta Parracino and her team have developed an eco-friendly biosensor based on lactate oxidase (LOX), capable of repeated use and storage at room temperature, for the dependable detection of lactic acid. The detection of lactic acid finds applications in early symptom diagnosis, such as intraabdominal sepsis and acidosis, assessing the physical condition of athletes, and evaluating the freshness and quality of food [23-28]. In their research, they fabricated the biosensor using electrospray deposition (ESD) technology, enabling a streamlined, one-step process without the need for additional material synthesis. Particularly, this approach eliminates the use of harmful chemicals, rendering it efficient and environmentally friendly. However, notably, lactate oxidase is a notably unstable enzyme, necessitating additional immobilization techniques. Despite this drawback, ESD technology offers a unique advantage by enabling the creation of sensors that can be stored and reused for extended periods, a feat not easily achieved with other immobilization technologies. Furthermore, the study compared the stability of lactic acid detection biosensors and found that those fabricated using ESD technology exhibited 100% stability over 24 consecutive measurements. Remarkably, these biosensors retained their initial characteristics even after a year. Biosensors produced via ESD technology are not only easy to process but also environmentally friendly and exceptionally stable, making them a promising choice for the commercialization of biosensors (Fig. 4) [29].

Fig. 4. 
(a) Schematic of the ESD setup (top right panel) and enlarged scheme of the deposition region (top left panel) where the dimensions and the relative distance between the needle, cone, and the PB/C-SPE are depicted. Schematic of redox reactions that occur at the electrode surface during amperometric measurements (bottom panel). Before and after images of lactic acid enzyme deposition: (b) central part and (c) edge part. (d) Working stability of the e-LOX/PB/C-SPE freshly made by ESD (blue dots) and by drop-casting (red dots). (e) Working stability of the e-LOX/PB/C-SPE tested after 3 months of storage (green dots). (f) Measurement of the biosensor current after 24 h and 1 year of storage (Reproduced from [29], with permission from Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023.)

Ensuring the stability of sensor signals is of paramount importance, especially given that many biosensors operate in inherently unstable environments, necessitating their ability to function reliably despite external stimuli [30, 31]. Huanyu Cheng and his team introduced a biosensor capable of monitoring physiological information and health status using soft and deformable electronic devices. They achieved this by employing printable biphasic Ga-In (bGaIn) and self-healing hygroscopic randomly hyperbranched polymers (HRHP) in combination with a kirigami design. This innovative biosensor boasts several key features, including high conductivity (3.40 × 10⁴S·cm^-1), outstanding self-healing capabilities, over 900% elasticity, and stability under 2000 repeated tension tests. These sensors were effectively employed to provide real-time monitoring of ECG signals during physical activities and to diagnose autonomic dysfunction, increased pulmonary blood flow, and decreased cardiac blood flow. Furthermore, the flexibility of the sensor enabled it to establish closer contact with the area under measurement, enhancing the reliability of the signal (Fig. 5) [32].

Fig. 5. 
(a) Exploded view of proof-of-the-concept multifunctional electronics to monitor. (b) Comparison of initial conductivity, stretchability, and normalized resistance change at maximum strain between bGaIn from this work and other stretchable conductors. (c) The stability testing of the bGaIn traces on VHB over 2000 cycles to 300% stretching. (d) Corresponding SNR values in original, fractured, and self-healing states. (e) The signals (temperature in red and motion in blue) measured before fracture, upon fracture, and after self-healing. (f) Image showing the self-healing process of the multifunctional device. (Reproduced from [32], with permission from Wiley, 2023.)

The most studied and utilized bioelectronic devices are electrochemical biosensors based on enzyme recognition reactions. These biosensing applications depend on the remarkable substrate specificity of enzymatic reactions and reaction rates, that are proportional to concentration. Joseph Wang et al. developed a system for real-time monitoring of glucose and alcohol level in sweat and bodily fluids using biosensors. The sensor detected glucose and alcohol concentrations by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) and alcohol oxidase (AOx) on the surface of Prussian blue-carbon electrodes with the aid of chitosan hydrogels. The sweat-inducing drug pilocarpine was injected into the skin to check the behavioral characteristics, and the measured results were monitored in real time through a laptop and a mobile device via Bluetooth in the sensor. Furthermore, even under repeated (120 times) bending tests at 90°, the characteristics hardly changed and the operation remained stable. Through this in vitro biosensor, the authors presented a platform that could be used to monitor the glucose levels of diabetic patients in real time and prevent drink-driving accidents in advance (Fig. 6) [37].

Fig. 6. 
(a) Tattoo biosensor with the iontophoretic. (b) Alcohol iontophoresis tattoo sensor with integrated flexible electronics attached to a human subject. (c) Mechanical deformation test of the tattoo sensor. (d) Schematic of a wireless operation of the iontophoretic-sensing tattoo device for transdermal alcohol sensing. (e) Schematic of constituents in the iontophoretic system (left) and of the reagent layer and processes involved in the amperometry sensing of ethanol on the working electrode (right). (Reproduced from [37], with permission from ACS Publications, 2016.)

In vivo biosensing has substantially elevated healthcare standards, as in vivo biosensors enable continuous monitoring and even treatment of patient conditions. While many sensors have been developed to detect physiologically relevant analytes, displaying tremendous potential for in vivo monitoring, most of them have only been studied at the animal level. Consequently, there are limited instances of biosensors approved for human implantation. Notably, Zhou Li and colleagues designed a soft sensor using an adhesive hydrogel (AH). This soft sensor exhibits exceptional properties, enduring more than 631% tensile strain with a corresponding breaking strength of 140 kPa. It also boasts a high output of 8.3 V, long-term stability over 6000 cycles, and a high power density of 186.9 μWm⁻² (Fig. 7) [38].

Fig. 7. 
(a) SEM and explosive view of TPSS displayed the multi-layered structure with close contact between layers. (b) The V_oc, I_sc, and C_sc of TPSS vary with different bending strains. (c) Schematic diagram of in vivo experimental test system. (d) TPSS is closely attached to the surface of the right-side internal carotid artery. (e) Blood pressure data from a commercial sensor (top) and the corresponding output signals from TPSS (down). (f) Relationship between the arterial blood pressure and the output voltage of TPSS. (Reproduced from [38], with permission from Wiley, 2023.)