In our daily routine, you have experienced graphene without knowing it. Graphene is a thin layer of carbon atoms that makes up the lead of a pencil. The carbon atoms in it are arranged in a honeycomb pattern.
Undoubtedly, graphene is very important because it has many amazing properties. For example, it is very strong, flexible, and conductive. These properties make graphene a good material for biosensing.
Biosensing is a way of detecting biological molecules or signals. But pristine graphene has some problems for biosensing. It is not very selective or sensitive. It can’t tell the difference between different molecules or signals.
That’s why scientists use nitrogen-doped graphene (NG). NG is a type of graphene that has some nitrogen atoms. So, NG is better than pristine graphene for biosensing because it can tell the difference between different molecules or signals.
This article will tell you how NG works for biosensing and what its applications are.
How can Nitrogen doping be tailored for enhanced biosensing?
There are different methods to dope graphene with nitrogen atoms. Some of them are thermal treatment, chemical vapor deposition, and plasma treatment. These methods can create different types of nitrogen doping, such as pyridinic, pyrrolic, and quaternary.
The level and type of nitrogen doping affect how graphene works as a biosensor. For example, the more nitrogen atoms are in graphene, the higher its conductivity and catalytic activity are. These can help the electron transfer and the binding of biological molecules.
Also, different types of nitrogen doping can create different active sites on graphene. These sites can detect specific biological molecules.
Scientists use some techniques to analyze the doped graphene. Some of them are X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. These techniques can measure the amount, the type, and the location of nitrogen doping on graphene.
Applications of Nitrogen-Doped Graphene in Electrochemical Biosensing
Electrochemical biosensing is a way of measuring biological molecules using electricity. Let’s discuss the applications of NG in biosensing:
- Detection of Biomolecules
NG can help detect glucose better than other materials. Glucose is a type of sugar that is important for our health. NG can react with hydrogen peroxide, which is produced when glucose is oxidized. This makes the electric signal stronger and more accurate. Also, NG can tell apart glucose from other sugars that might interfere with the measurement.
Plus, NG can help attach DNA and proteins to the sensor surface. DNA and proteins are important molecules that carry genetic and functional information. NG has nitrogen groups that can bond with DNA and proteins. This makes them more stable and less likely to fall off. NG can also boost the electric signal by transferring electrons faster and easier.
Furthermore, nitrogen graphene can help detect other biomolecules, too, such as enzymes and drugs. Enzymes are molecules that speed up chemical reactions. Drugs are molecules that affect our bodies in different ways. NG can interact with these molecules and change the electric signal accordingly. It can also improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the biosensor by tuning the amount and type of nitrogen atoms.
- Point-of-Care Testing
NG-based biosensors are very small and easy to carry. They can work without a big lab or a lot of power. This makes them ideal for testing in remote areas or at home. You can use them to check your health or the quality of your environment anytime, anywhere.
Some examples of POC devices using Best Nitrogen-doped graphene are:
- DNA biosensor
A DNA biosensor can detect genetically modified crops. It uses gold nanoparticles and NG to amplify the signal of DNA hybridization. It can tell if a maize sample contains a specific gene in less than an hour.
- Calcium biosensor
A calcium biosensor can find out hypocalcemia in dairy cows. It uses NG, gold nanoparticles, and DNAzyme to measure the calcium level in the blood. This way, it can help keep cows healthy and make more milk.
- Glucose biosensor
A glucose biosensor can check diabetes in humans. It uses NG and platinum nanoparticles to catalyze the oxidation of glucose. It can tell how much glucose is in blood or saliva very accurately.
- Bioelectronics and Implantable Devices
NG is a promising material for implantable biosensors. Why? Because it is biocompatible and stable. Biocompatibility means that NG does not hurt the body or cause swelling. Stability means that NG does not break down or change over time. The amazing thing is that nitrogen graphene has these qualities because it has a thin, flexible, and smooth surface that can resist problems such as biofouling and corrosion.
Not to mention, this graphene type can be used for various applications in bioelectronics and implantable devices. They include neural prosthetics, drug delivery monitoring, and biosensing inside the body.
NG can make neural prosthetics better because it can carry electricity well and does not harm the body, which can help communicate with the nerve cells. It can help with drug delivery monitoring because it can carry the drug and sense the drug level. Moreover, it can release the drug in a controlled way by applying something from outside, like heat, light, or electric field. Lastly, NG can make biosensing inside the body better because it can sense very well and only measure what we want.
Future Prospects and Challenges
Nitrogen-doped graphene is better than other materials because it can conduct electricity well, has a lot of surface area, and is safe for living things.
Scientists are trying to make NG-based biosensors better. They want them to detect things faster, more accurately, and more easily. They also want to use them for many purposes, such as health, food, and the environment.
But there are some problems to solve. For example, how to make a lot of NG, how to make it cheaper, and how to make sure it is good and stable. These things affect how well and how long NG-based biosensors work.
So, NG is a great material for electrochemical biosensing, but it needs more research and development to show its best results. For More information
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) is a new material that is good for electrochemical biosensing. It can find molecules like oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and glucose precisely. This graphene type can also work well with enzymes. It is better than other materials like platinum or graphene. Why? Because it is cheaper, more stable, and more flexible. In addition, NG can help us improve many areas, like healthcare, environmental monitoring, and bioelectronics. Thank visiting bbuspost.com
