Nanostructured metal oxide-based biosensors

Nanostructured metal oxides (NMOs) have recently become important as materials that provide an effective surface for biomolecule immobilization with desired orientation, better conformation and high biological activity resulting in enhanced sensing characteristics. Nanostructured metal oxides with unique optical, electrical and molecular properties along with desired functionalities and surface charge properties provide interesting platforms for interfacing biorecognition elements with transducers for signal amplification. In this review, we discuss the various approaches that have been adopted for improving the performance of NMO-based biosensors for clinical and non-clinical applications. The performance of an NMO-based biosensor can be improved by tailoring the properties of the metal oxide–biomolecule interface through engineering of morphology, particle size, effective surface area, functionality, adsorption capability and electron-transfer properties. These interesting NMOs are expected to find applications in a new generation of miniaturized, smart biosensing devices.