Dedicated to Professor Huangxian Ju and Professor Xueji Zhang on the Occasion of Their 60th Birthday for Their Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical/Bio Sensors

A special issue of Chemosensors (ISSN 2227-9040). This special issue belongs to the section "(Bio)chemical Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 7760

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
2. School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Interests: bioelectroanalytical chemistry; biosensors

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State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: cell surface glycan sensing; glycan editing; in vivo glycan imaging; proximity labeling

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Guest Editor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Centre, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Interests: nucleic acid biosensors; nano-medicines; theranostics nanosystems; nanoprobes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to Professor Huangxian Ju and Professor Xueji Zhang on the occasion of their 60th birthday and the 20th anniversary of their acquaintance at the 1st I3S (International symposium on sensors science) conference, as recognition of their significant contributions to the field.

Huangxian Ju, born on Nov. 10, 1964, is currently a professor in Nanjing University, the director of State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science. He is one of the pioneers in nanobiosensing, ECL biosensing based on inorganic nanoparticles, the in situ analysis of cell surface carbohydrates, and real-time therapeutic monitoring. He was elected a fellow of the International Society of Electrochemistry and the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2015, Fellows of the International Society of Electrochemistry and the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2015, and a Fellow of the Chinese Society of Chemistry in 2023. He won the 2022 Advances in Measurement Science Lectureship Awards. He serves as the chief editor of Targets and Frontiers in Chemistry: Analytical Chemistry, an associate editor of Sensors and Journal of Analysis and Testing, and has been an editorial member of more than 20 international journals. The research interests of Professor Huangxian Ju include analytical biochemistry, nanobiosensing, bioimaging, and molecular diagnosis. He has published 932 papers (871 papers in SCI journals), and has authored 96 patents (48 approved), 6 English books, 7 Chinese books, 20 chapters for 10 Chinese and 10 English books, and 8 editorial, preface, or book reviews. Up to June 30 2024, his research works have more than 47000 citations in SCI journals (>45000 by other authors) with an h-index of 107 (Google Scholar h-index 119 with more than 54000 citations).

Xueji Zhang, born in February 1964, is the Vice President of Shenzhen University and Distinguish Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering at the Shenzhen University. He was a research scientist, Sr. scientist, chief scientist, Vice President, and Sr. Vice President at World Precision Instruments, Inc. USA from 1999 to 2012 before he joined USTB as National Chair Professor. His research interests span the disciplines of chemistry, biology, materials, and medicine, with an emphasis on studies of wearable sensor, intelligent sensors,biosensing, biomedicine, and biomaterials. His lab focuses on the development of novel biosensors, tools, and devices to study free radicals, cancer biomarkers, profiling changes in animal or human associated with diseases, and exploiting this information for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In addition, his group investigates drug delivery, new energy, and natural medicines. He serves as the chief editor of the RSC journal Sensors & Diagnostics and has been editorial member of 24 international journals. He has received numerous national and international awards and honors including Member European Academy of Sciences, Member of Russian Academy of Engineering, Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Bioengineering, Fellow of Royal Chemical Society, National Innovation Award, China, Scientist of Year in China, and Simon Fellow of ICSC-World Lab. He has authored over 700 papers, 8 books, and over 200 patents (with 40000 citations and H= 107), and has developed numerous sensors and instruments for commercialization.

Since Prof. Ju met Prof Zhang at the 1st I3S in Paris in 2003; they have carried out extensive and in-depth scientific research cooperation, which led to 16 articles published in many international journals, as well as the 3 following books: Electrochemical Sensors, Biosensors and Their Biomedical Applications, Academic Press (2007) and Chemical Industry Press in Chinese (2009); NanoBiosensing—Principles, Development and Application, Springer (2011) and Science Press in in Chinese (2009); Nucleic Acid Detection: Methods for analysis of DNA and microRNA, Intellectual Property Press in Chinese (2015).

The purpose of this Special Issue is to pay tribute to the significant contributions to these fields of Professor Huangxian Ju and Professor Xueji Zhang. We cordially and earnestly invite researchers to contribute your original and high-quality papers that will inspire advances in chemical sensors and biosensors.

Prof. Dr. Zhihui Dai
Prof. Dr. Lin Ding
Prof. Dr. Haifeng Dong
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • chemical sensors
  • biosensors and bioimaging
  • nanosensors
  • wearable sensors
  • molecular diagnosis
  • life analytical chemistry

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3826 KiB  
Article
Non-Invasive Detection of Interferon-Gamma in Sweat Using a Wearable DNA Hydrogel-Based Electrochemical Sensor
by Yang Dai, Xiuran Mao, Maimaiti A. Abulaiti, Qianyu Wang, Zhihao Bai, Yifeng Ding, Shuangcan Zhai, Yang Pan and Yue Zhang
Chemosensors 2025, 13(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13020032 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 373
Abstract
Monitoring of immune factors, including interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), holds great importance for understanding immune responses and disease diagnosis. Wearable sensors enable continuous and non-invasive detection of immune markers in sweat, drawing significant attention to their potential in real-time health monitoring and personalized medicine. Among [...] Read more.
Monitoring of immune factors, including interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), holds great importance for understanding immune responses and disease diagnosis. Wearable sensors enable continuous and non-invasive detection of immune markers in sweat, drawing significant attention to their potential in real-time health monitoring and personalized medicine. Among these, electrochemical sensors are particularly advantageous, due to their excellent signal responsiveness, cost-effectiveness, miniaturization, and broad applicability, making them ideal for constructing wearable sweat sensors. In this study, we present a flexible and sensitive wearable platform for the detection of IFN-γ, utilizing a DNA hydrogel with favorable loading performance and sample collection capability, and the application of mobile software achieves immediate data analysis and processing. This platform integrates three-dimensional DNA hydrogel functionalized with IFN-γ-specific aptamers for precise target recognition and efficient sweat collection. Signal amplification is achieved through target-triggered catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), with DNA hairpins remarkably enhancing sensitivity. Ferrocene-labeled reporting strands immobilized on a screen-printed carbon electrode are displayed via CHA-mediated strand displacement, leading to a measurable reduction in electrical signals. These changes are transmitted to a custom-developed mobile application via a portable electrochemical workstation for real-time data analysis and recording. This wearable sensor platform combines the specificity of DNA aptamers, advanced signal amplification, and the convenience of mobile data processing. It offers a high-sensitivity approach to detecting low-abundance targets in sweat, paving the way for new applications in point-of-care diagnostics and wearable health monitoring. Full article
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14 pages, 3144 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of a Near-Infrared Upconversion Nanosensor for the Ultrasensitive Detection of eARGs Using a Dual-Amplification Strategy
by Yuqi Zhang, Mengmeng Li, Yan Zhang, Xinli Shi, Yujun Sun, Chunping Ge, M. Haris Mahmood, Zhaomei Sun, Xinyue Song and Shusheng Zhang
Chemosensors 2024, 12(12), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12120273 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 867
Abstract
Extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs) have emerged as significant environmental contaminants due to their role in the transmission and proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a major threat to global health. Traditional detection methods for eARGs require complicated equipment, lengthy analysis times, and relatively [...] Read more.
Extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs) have emerged as significant environmental contaminants due to their role in the transmission and proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a major threat to global health. Traditional detection methods for eARGs require complicated equipment, lengthy analysis times, and relatively low selectivity. Furthermore, eARGs are present in low concentrations in surface water samples, which presents considerable challenges to the sensitivity of detection assays. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more accessible, stable, and sensitive detection methods. In this work, we developed an ultrasensitive upconversion nanosensor utilizing a dual-amplification strategy for the detection of trace eARGs (bla-TEM). The upconversion nanosensor was activated upon the capture of bla-TEM and subsequently enriched through magnetic separation. Following this, a cascade nicking-polymerization amplification process occurred in a single reaction facilitated by a magnetic capture probe, an upconversion recognition probe, and the relevant enzymes. The upconversion nanosensor functions as both the direct target-recognizing moieties and signal reporters, replacing the energy donor in conventional luminescence resonance energy transfer-based upconversion nanosensors. Ultimately, the strategy demonstrated excellent sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.093 aM, rapid detection in less than one hour, good selectivity, and high accuracy compared to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of ultrasensitive detection assays for emerging environmental pollutants. Full article
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16 pages, 5590 KiB  
Article
Coral-like Ti3C2Tx/PANI Binary Nanocomposite Wearable Enzyme Electrochemical Biosensor for Continuous Monitoring of Human Sweat Glucose
by Jinhao Wang, Lijuan Chen, Fan Chen, Xinyang Lu, Xuanye Li, Yu Bao, Wei Wang, Dongxue Han and Li Niu
Chemosensors 2024, 12(11), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12110222 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1136
Abstract
With the continuous advancement of contemporary medical technology, an increasing number of individuals are inclined towards self-monitoring their physiological health information, specifically focusing on monitoring blood glucose levels. However, as an emerging flexible sensing technique, continuous and non-invasive monitoring of glucose in sweat [...] Read more.
With the continuous advancement of contemporary medical technology, an increasing number of individuals are inclined towards self-monitoring their physiological health information, specifically focusing on monitoring blood glucose levels. However, as an emerging flexible sensing technique, continuous and non-invasive monitoring of glucose in sweat offers a promising alternative to conventional invasive blood tests for measuring blood glucose levels, reducing the risk of infection associated with blood testing. In this study, we fabricated a flexible and wearable electrochemical enzyme sensor based on a two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets and coral-like polyaniline (PANI) binary nanocomposite (denoted as Ti3C2Tx/PANI) for continuous, non-invasive, real-time monitoring of sweat glucose. The exceptional conductivity of Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets, in conjunction with the mutual doping effect facilitated by coral-like PANI, significantly enhances electrical conductivity and specific surface areas of Ti3C2Tx/PANI. Consequently, the fabricated sensor exhibits remarkable sensitivity (25.16 μA·mM−1·cm−2), a low detection limit of glucose (26 μM), and an extensive detection range (0.05 mM ~ 1.0 mM) in sweat. Due to the dense coral-like structure of Ti3C2Tx/PANI binary nanocomposite, a larger effective area is obtained to offer more active sites for enzyme immobilization and enhancing enzymatic catalytic activity. Moreover, the sensor demonstrates exceptional mechanical performance, enabling a 60° bend in practical applications, thus satisfying the rigorous demands of human sweat detection applications. The results obtained from continuous 60 min in vitro monitoring of sweat glucose levels demonstrate a robust correlation with the data of blood glucose levels collected by a commercial glucose meter. Furthermore, the fabricated Ti3C2Tx/PANI/GOx sensor demonstrated agreement with HPLC findings regarding the actual concentration of added glucose. This study presents an efficient and practical approach for the development of a highly reliable MXene glucose biosensor, enabling stable and long-term monitoring of glucose levels in human sweat. Full article
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11 pages, 2313 KiB  
Article
Water-Soluble Photoluminescent Ag Nanoclusters Stabilized by Amphiphilic Copolymers as Nanoprobe for Hypochlorite Detection
by Xiangfang Lin, Qinhui Dong, Yalin Chang, Shusheng Zhang and Pengfei Shi
Chemosensors 2024, 12(8), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12080166 - 17 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1262
Abstract
Luminescent Ag nanoclusters (Ag NCs) are a promising probe material for sensing and bioimaging applications. However, the intrinsic obstacle of poor water stability and photostability greatly restrict their practical application in biological systems. Herein, we report the intracellular hypochlorite (ClO) detection [...] Read more.
Luminescent Ag nanoclusters (Ag NCs) are a promising probe material for sensing and bioimaging applications. However, the intrinsic obstacle of poor water stability and photostability greatly restrict their practical application in biological systems. Herein, we report the intracellular hypochlorite (ClO) detection with amphiphilic copolymer-modified luminescent Ag NCs with good biocompatibility and photostability. The Ag NCs were synthesized by using chemically inert hydrophobic ligands and then modified with an amphiphilic (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly(ethylene glycol))-2000]) (DSPE-PEG-2000) and sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) for phase transfer. It was found that the approach of the removal of organic solvents during the phase transfer has remarkable influences on the properties of the Ag NCs, including their size, luminescence property, and aqueous stability. Furthermore, the silver core of Ag NCs could be oxidatively damaged by ClO, thereby causing photoluminescence (PL) quenching. The ClO-induced PL quenching was specific over the other common reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as some common interferences. Finally, they have been successfully applied as a fluorescent nanoprobe for detecting exogenous and endogenous ClO in living cells. Full article
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Review

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32 pages, 13426 KiB  
Review
Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensors Based on Metal Oxides and Sulfides: Recent Progress and Perspectives
by Haibing Zhu, Feng Shi, Maoying Peng, Ye Zhang, Sitian Long, Ruixin Liu, Juan Li and Zhanjun Yang
Chemosensors 2025, 13(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13010019 - 16 Jan 2025
Viewed by 614
Abstract
With the sudden advancement of glucose biosensors for monitoring blood glucose levels for the prevention and diagnosis of diabetes, non-enzymatic glucose sensors have aroused great interest owing to their sensitivity, stability, and economy. Recently, researchers have dedicated themselves to developing non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose [...] Read more.
With the sudden advancement of glucose biosensors for monitoring blood glucose levels for the prevention and diagnosis of diabetes, non-enzymatic glucose sensors have aroused great interest owing to their sensitivity, stability, and economy. Recently, researchers have dedicated themselves to developing non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors for the rapid, convenient, and sensitive determination of glucose. However, it is desirable to explore economic and effective nanomaterials with a high non-enzymatic catalysis performance toward glucose to modify electrodes. Metal oxides (MOs) and metal sulfides (MSs) have attracted extensive interest among scholars owing to their excellent catalytic activity, good biocompatibility, low cost, simple synthesis process, and controllable morphology and structure. Nonetheless, the exploitation of MOs and MSs in non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors still suffers from relatively low conductivity and biocompatibility. Therefore, it is of significance to integrate MOs and MSs with metal/carbon/conducive polymers to modify electrodes for compensating the aforementioned deficiency. This review introduces the recent developments in non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors based on MOs and MSs, focusing on their preparation methods and how their structural composition influences sensing performance. Finally, this review discusses the prospects and challenges of non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors. Full article
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17 pages, 3787 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in DNA Systems for In Situ Telomerase Activity Detection and Imaging
by Shiyi Zhang, Wenjing Xiong, Shuyue Xu and Ruocan Qian
Chemosensors 2025, 13(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13010017 - 15 Jan 2025
Viewed by 661
Abstract
Telomeres play a key role in maintaining chromosome stability and cellular aging. They consist of repetitive DNA sequences that protect chromosome ends and regulate cell division. Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase enzyme counteracts the natural shortening of telomeres during cell division by extending [...] Read more.
Telomeres play a key role in maintaining chromosome stability and cellular aging. They consist of repetitive DNA sequences that protect chromosome ends and regulate cell division. Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase enzyme counteracts the natural shortening of telomeres during cell division by extending them. Its activity is pivotal in stem cells and cancer cells but absent in most normal somatic cells. Recent advances in biosensor technologies have facilitated the in situ detection of telomerase activity, which is essential for understanding its role in aging and cancer. Techniques such as fluorescence, electrochemistry, and DNA nanotechnology are now being employed to monitor telomerase activity in living cells, providing real-time insights into cellular processes. DNA-based biosensors, especially those incorporating molecular beacons, DNA walkers, and logic gates, have shown promise for enhancing sensitivity and specificity in telomerase imaging. These approaches also facilitate the simultaneous analysis of related cellular pathways, offering potential applications in early cancer detection and precision therapies. This review explores recent developments in intracellular telomerase imaging, highlighting innovative approaches such as DNA-functionalized nanoparticles and multi-channel logic systems, which offer non-invasive, real-time detection of telomerase activity in complex cellular environments. Full article
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30 pages, 10673 KiB  
Review
Advancing Biosensing and Imaging with DNA-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Synthesis, Applications, and Future Challenges—A Review
by Jiacheng Li, Sidra Parvez and Tong Shu
Chemosensors 2024, 12(12), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12120271 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 719
Abstract
Metal nanoclusters (MNCs) are emerging as a novel class of luminescent nanomaterials with unique properties, bridging the gap between individual atoms and nanoparticles. Among these, DNA-templated MNCs have gained significant attention due to the synergistic combination of MNCs’ properties (such as exceptional resistance [...] Read more.
Metal nanoclusters (MNCs) are emerging as a novel class of luminescent nanomaterials with unique properties, bridging the gap between individual atoms and nanoparticles. Among these, DNA-templated MNCs have gained significant attention due to the synergistic combination of MNCs’ properties (such as exceptional resistance to photostability, size-tunable emission, and excellent optical characteristics) with the inherent advantages of DNA, including programmability, functional modification, molecular recognition, biocompatibility, and water solubility. The programmability and biocompatibility of DNA offer precise control over the size, shape, and composition of MNCs, leading to tunable optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. This review delves into the complex relationship between DNA sequence, structure, and the resulting MNC properties. By adjusting parameters such as DNA sequence, length, and conformation, the size, morphology, and composition of the corresponding MNCs can be fine-tuned, enabling insights into how DNA structure influences the optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of MNCs. Finally, this review highlights the remarkable versatility and latest advancements of DNA-templated MNCs, particularly in biosensing and imaging, and explores their future potential to revolutionize biomedical applications. Full article
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Other

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13 pages, 79922 KiB  
Perspective
In Vivo Photoelectrochemical Analysis
by Li Li, Yueru Zhao, Cong Pan, Wenjie Ma and Ping Yu
Chemosensors 2025, 13(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13010002 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 731
Abstract
Microelectrode-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology is a novel and rapidly developing analytical method for the in vivo probing of neurochemical events in the brain, which is distinguished by its low background noise and high detection sensitivity. This mini-review focuses on recent advances in in [...] Read more.
Microelectrode-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology is a novel and rapidly developing analytical method for the in vivo probing of neurochemical events in the brain, which is distinguished by its low background noise and high detection sensitivity. This mini-review focuses on recent advances in in vivo PEC biosensors. We classify the key characteristics of PEC technology and elucidate its underlying principles. Furthermore, newly developed PEC neurochemical sensing methods for detecting various substances, including SO2, antibiotics, metal ions, neurotransmitters, and thioalcohols, as well as cells are discussed. Finally, this review concludes with a comprehensive summary and perspectives on the emerging opportunities and challenges facing this field. Full article
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