Chapter 2 - A perspective of advanced biosensors for environmental monitoring

Abstract

Biosensor technology has developed in leaps and bounds due to multidisciplinary approach between biotechnology and nanotechnology. This synergy provided much needed characteristic features, such as sensitivity and selectivity to the biosensor technology. Biosensors are venerated as superior entities for electrochemical, optical, and calorimetric-based sensing because of their exceptional size properties. They are the potential tools, which exhibited the feasibility and potential in detecting various biological, physical, chemical, radiological contaminants in water. This book chapter outlines the overview of various types of sensors, especially on chalcogen-based semiconductor nanoparticles. In this scenario, green route nanoparticles which employ PbSe quantum dots synthesis via marine Aspergillus terreus and ZnS/PbS nanoparticles via an endophytic fungus Aspergillus flavus are focused in this chapter. The book chapter also discusses about highly selective biogenic nanosensors which play a significant role in improving the capacity of biosensors due to their size tuneable quantum confinement effects. Potential applications of these biosensors for environmental monitoring are discussed.