Laser-induced graphene-based electrochemical biosensors for environmental applications: a perspective

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-03, Vol.30 (15), p.42643-42657
• Main Authors: Wanjari, Vikram P., Reddy, A. Sudharshan, Duttagupta, Siddhartha P., Singh, Swatantra P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Aptamers; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensors; Chemical reduction; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electrochemical Techniques - methods; Electrochemistry; Electron transfer; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Fabrication; Graphene; Graphite - chemistry; Heavy metals; Inorganic compounds; Nanomaterials; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanotechnology; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Pesticides; Polymers; Sustainable Technologies in Water Treatment and Desalination; Threat evaluation; Trace levels; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21035-x

Biosensors are miniaturized devices that provide the advantage of in situ and point-of-care monitoring of analytes of interest. Electrochemical biosensors use the mechanism of oxidation–reduction reactions and measurement of corresponding electron transfer as changes in current, voltage, or other parameters using different electrochemical techniques. The use of electrochemically active materials is critical for the effective functioning of electrochemical biosensors. Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has garnered increasing interest in biosensor development and improvement due to its high electrical conductivity, specific surface area, and simple and scalable fabrication process. The effort of this perspective is to understand the existing classes of analytes and the mechanisms of their detection using LIG-based biosensors. The manuscript has highlighted the potential use of LIG, its modifications, and its use with various receptors for sensing various environmental pollutants. Although the conventional graphene-based sensors effectively detect trace levels for many analytes in different applications, the chemical and energy-intensive fabrication and time-consuming processes make it imperative to explore a low-cost and scalable option such as LIG for biosensors production. The focus of these potential biosensors has been kept on detection analytes of environmental significance such as heavy metals ions, organic and inorganic compounds, fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens, and antibiotics. The use of LIG directly as an electrode, its modifications with nanomaterials and polymers, and its combination with bioreceptors such as aptamers and polymers has been summarized. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis has also been done to understand the viability of incorporating LIG-based electrochemical biosensors for environmental applications. Graphical abstract