Ionic liquids enhancement of hydrogels and impact on biosensing applications

The pursuit of novel materials to enhance specific features and the analytical efficiency of sensors is a hot topic in the biomaterial engineering field. Hydrogels are an important material category that has a good value in biosensing applications due to their immobilization and protection capabilities that enhance their biocompatibility. Progress in development allowed the production of intelligent hydrogel materials that can function as a stimuli-responsive medium in sensing signal actuation. A novel concept in hydrogel-enabled biosensing development is the addition of ionic liquids (ILs) to create unique structures called ionic gels that possess both the intrinsic features of hydrogels and ILs. The current review is a straightforward overview of the two materials (hydrogels and ion gels) with a strong interest in their potential in biosensing applications. A highlight of the most recent and impactful research is analyzed to provide a solid standing reference point for future development.