Recent advances on nanomaterial-based glutathione sensors

Abstract

Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most common thiol-containing molecules discovered in biological systems, and it plays an important role in many cellular functions, where changes in physiological glutathione levels contribute to the progress of a variety of diseases. Molecular imaging employing fluorescent probes is thought to be a sensitive technique for online fluorescence detection of GSH. Although various molecular probes for (intracellular) GSH sensing have been reported, some aspects remain unanswered, such as quantitative intracellular analysis, dynamic monitoring, and compatibility with biological environment. Some of these drawbacks can be overcome by sensors based on nanostructured materials, that have attracted considerable attention owing to their exceptional properties, including a large surface area, heightened electro-catalytic activity, and robust mechanical resilience, for which they have become integral components in the development of highly sensitive chemo- and biosensors. Additionally, engineered nanomaterials have demonstrated significant promise in enhancing the precision of disease diagnosis and refining treatment specificity. The aim of this review is to investigate recent advancements in fabricated nanomaterials tailored for detecting GSH. Specifically, it examines various material categories, encompassing carbon, polymeric, quantum dots (QDs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), metal-based, and silicon-based nanomaterials, applied in the fabrication of chemo- and biosensors. The fabrication of nano-biosensors, mechanisms, and methodologies employed for GSH detection utilizing these fabricated nanomaterials will also be elucidated. Remarkably, there is a noticeable absence of existing reviews specifically dedicated to the nanomaterials for GSH detection since they are not comprehensive in the case of nano-fabrication, mechanisms and methodologies of detection, as well as applications in various biological environments. This research gap presents an opportune moment to thoroughly assess the potential of nanomaterial-based approaches in advancing GSH detection methodologies.