Recent Advances in the Field of Bionanotechnology: An Insight into Optoelectric Bacteriorhodopsin, Quantum Dots, and Noble Metal Nanoclusters

Sensors

Christopher Knoblauch²  Mark Griep¹ 

[1]U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD 21005, USA

[2] E-Mail:

[3]Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Multi-Scale Technologies Institute, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

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关键词: bacteriorhodopsin;    quantum dots;    noble metal nanoclusters;    biosensor;    molecular sensor;    molecular electronics;    bioelectronics;    bionanotechnology;    solar cell;    fluorescent sensor;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s141019731

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Molecular sensors and molecular electronics are a major component of a recent research area known as bionanotechnology, which merges biology with nanotechnology. This new class of biosensors and bioelectronics has been a subject of intense research over the past decade and has found application in a wide variety of fields. The unique characteristics of these biomolecular transduction systems has been utilized in applications ranging from solar cells and single-electron transistors (SETs) to fluorescent sensors capable of sensitive and selective detection of a wide variety of targets, both organic and inorganic. This review will discuss three major systems in the area of molecular sensors and electronics and their application in unique technological innovations. Firstly, the synthesis of optoelectric bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and its application in the field of molecular sensors and electronics will be discussed. Next, this article will discuss recent advances in the synthesis and application of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Finally, this article will conclude with a review of the new and exciting field of noble metal nanoclusters and their application in the creation of a new class of fluorescent sensors.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.