Heavy Metal Ions Detection Using Nanomaterials-Based Aptasensors

Crit Rev Anal Chem. 2024;54(6):1399-1415. doi: 10.1080/10408347.2022.2115287. Epub 2022 Aug 26.

Abstract

Heavy metals ions as metallic pollutants are a growing global issue due to their adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem, and human health. Unfortunately, conventional detection methods such as atomic absorption spectrometry exhibit a relatively low limit of detection and hold numerous disadvantages, and therefore, the development of an efficient method for in-situ and real-time detection of heavy metal residues is of great importance. The aptamer-based sensors offer distinct advantages over antibodies and emerged as a robust sensing platform against various heavy metals due to their high sensitivity, ease of production, simple operations, excellent specificity, better stability, low immunogenicity, and cost-effectiveness. The nucleic acid aptamers in conjugation with nanomaterials can bind to the metal ions with good specificity/selectivity and can be used for on-site monitoring of metal ion residues. This review aimed to provide background information about nanomaterials-based aptasensor, recent advancements in aptamer conjunction on nanomaterials surface, the role of nanomaterials in improving signal transduction, recent progress of nanomaterials-based aptasening procedures (from 2010 to 2022), and future perspectives toward the practical applications of nanomaterials-based aptasensors against hazardous metal ions for food safety and environmental monitoring.

Keywords: Aptasensor; colorimetry; electrochemistry; fluorescence; heavy metals; nanomaterials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide* / chemistry
  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Humans
  • Ions / analysis
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Metals, Heavy* / analysis
  • Metals, Heavy* / chemistry
  • Nanostructures* / chemistry

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Ions