Selection of bioreceptors for nanobiosensors: fundamentals and innovations in point-of-care applications

Biosensors play a crucial role in various fields, including medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety. The selectivity and accuracy of biosensor systems depend considerably on the choice of bioreceptor units. Commonly used naturally available bioreceptors include antibodies, aptamers, enzymes, nucleic acids, and biomimetic materials. The selection of appropriate bioreceptors is essential to develop reliable and precise biosensors. Factors, such as specificity, sensitivity, stability, and ease of immobilization on the sensor surface should be considered when choosing bioreceptors. Enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids, and whole cells are commonly used as bioreceptors in biosensor development. These bioreceptors can be further engineered to enhance the stability and turnover rate through genetic engineering. Moreover, advances in biotechnology have led to the development of new bioreceptors with improved properties, expanding the possibilities for biosensor applications. This chapter focuses mainly on the suitability of bioreceptor selection and understanding their properties in developing biosensor systems. In addition, it explores the significance of bioreceptor selection and the key properties essential to optimizing the performance and reliability of biosensors.