Abstract
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.
Highlights
Molecular sensing and molecular electronics is a diverse area that can include molecular conformational changes, changes in charge distribution, changes in optical absorbance and emission, or changes in electrical conductivity along or across simple or complex-shaped molecules, all in response to a target input
We provide a summary of several biomolecular transduction systems and their applications
Korposh et al [56] later showed the change in absorbance changes in ammonia concentration from zero to 10,000 ppm using optical fibers with an exposed end covered with a Purple Membrane (PM), gelatin, and triethanolamine mixture as above
Summary
Molecular sensing and molecular electronics is a diverse area that can include molecular conformational changes, changes in charge distribution, changes in optical absorbance and emission, or changes in electrical conductivity along or across simple or complex-shaped molecules, all in response to a target input. Each of these approaches can be integrated into a transduction system that provides a measurable and desired change in response to a specific or range of inputs. We provide a summary of several biomolecular transduction systems and their applications. The systems are bacteriorhodopsin and its integration with optoelectric sensing systems, semiconductor quantum dots and their application in sensors and electronics, and noble-metal nanoclusters
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