Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles‐Based Biosensors for Detection of Infectious Diseases

Biosensors are receptors with unique specificities toward corresponding analysts which are of biological origin, mainly DNAs of bacteria/viruses or proteins like antigen/antibodies or biomolecules like amino acid/sugar/pollutants or pathogens. Nanomaterials have proven to be effective in producing such biosensors with increased sensitivities due to their unique physicochemical properties like high specific areas. Among nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), quantum dots (QDs), polymer nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (MMONs) are intensively studied. Since the last decades, MMONs have been essential candidates for biosensing applications. MMONs can be synthesized in various forms such as nanoparticles (NPs), nanofibers (NFs), nanospheres (NSs), nanorods (NRs), nanotubes (NTs), nanowires (NWs), and nanosheets. Besides morphological versatility, MMONs also offer advantages such as good biocompatibility, nontoxicity, chemical stability, high surface-to-volume ratio, excellent selectivity, high catalytic efficiency, and strong adsorption ability. Moreover, MMONs can be produced via relatively easy and cost-effective methods. Hereby, we have initially discussed different types of biosensors and then we have given special attention to gold, silver, platinum, copper, zinc oxides, and other metal oxide-based biosensors, followed by different biosensing techniques such as electrochemical, colorimetric, and fluorometric to detect the infectious diseases.