Bio-Recognition in Spectroscopy-Based Biosensors for <i>*Heavy Metals</i>-Water and Waterborne Contamination Analysis

• Main Authors: Alessandra Aloisi, Antonio Della Torre, Angelantonio De Benedetto, Rosaria Rinaldi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
• Series: Biosensors
• Subjects: water pollution; environmental water; drinking water; milk; heavy metal ions; biosensor; detection limits; optical spectroscopy; proteins; functional nucleic acids
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/9/3/96

Microsystems and biomolecules integration as well multiplexing determinations are key aspects of sensing devices in the field of heavy metal contamination monitoring. The present review collects the most relevant information about optical biosensors development in the last decade. Focus is put on analytical characteristics and applications that are dependent on: (i) Signal transduction method (luminescence, colorimetry, evanescent wave (EW), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer (FRET), surface plasmon resonance (SPR); (ii) biorecognition molecules employed (proteins, nucleic acids, aptamers, and enzymes). The biosensing systems applied (or applicable) to water and milk samples will be considered for a comparative analysis, with an emphasis on water as the primary source of possible contamination along the food chain.