Themed collection Recent Review Articles

Nanopore electrochemistry, as one of the promising tools for single molecule sensing, has proved its capability in DNA sequencing and protein analysis.

Currently, there exists a multitude of different exosome isolation and characterization approaches based on biophysical and/or biochemical characteristics. Herein we review various technologies for separation of distinct exosome subpopulations.

Traditional enzymology relies on the kinetics of millions of enzymes, an experimental approach that may wash out heterogeneities between individual enzymes. Electrochemical methods have emerged in the last 5 years to probe single enzyme reactivity.

Recent advancements regarding the application of MIPs and relevant virus imprinting techniques for the detection of viruses are highlighted.

Self-assembled nanomaterials (SANs) exhibit designable biofunctions owing to their tunable nanostructures and modifiable surfaces.

This review summarizes recent bioanalytical methods for measuring and profiling protein stability in cells on a proteome-wide scale, which can provide insights for proteostasis and associated diseases.

The utilization of the DNA origami technique in the fabrication of complex objects has given rise to possibilities in DNA-induced precise manufacturing and might open a new era of bottom-up fabrication.

Gas-propelled biosensors display a simple gas-based signal amplification with quantitative detection features based on the target recognition event in combination with gas propulsion.

Stimulated Raman histopathology with computer aided diagnosis.

Classification of nanoclusters and methods to improve their quantum yield and applications.

Gas bubbles are easily accessible and offer many unique characteristic properties of a gas/liquid two-phase system for developing new analytical methods.

The unique optical properties of UCNPs, in particular the ability for background-free optical detection, bestow great potential for food safety and quality monitoring.

H₂O₂/HOCl-based fluorescent probes for dynamically monitoring pathophysiological processes in vivo were described.

Modulated aggregation and photonic properties of layered nanostructures (LNs) result in the stimuli-responsive output of colorimetric and fluorescence signals, contributing to the desired construction of novel chemical and biological sensors.

Due to the critical nature of biological and clinical samples used in cancer research, in terms of amount, stability and diversity of analytes, several combinations of sample preparation steps and methods have been developed.

An overview of microfluidic technologies for vascular studies and fabrication of vascular structures.

This Minireview summarizes the recent advances in reaction based MAO type fluorescent probes and their imaging applications in living systems.

Single-cell multi-omics analysis helps characterize multiple layers of molecular features at a single-cell scale to provide insights into cellular processes and functions.

Paper based electrochemical sensors (PESs) are simple, low-cost, portable and disposable analytical sensing platforms that can be applied in clinical diagnostics, food quality control and environmental monitoring.

Multiplex lateral flow immunoassays for outstanding POCT of infectious diseases.

A focused review of keloid diagnosis, keloid biomarkers, and recently reported fluorescent probes.

A new class of functional materials, carbon nitrides, has recently attracted the attention of researchers.

We provide a vision for integrating pioneering mass spectrometry technologies for future applications in single cell analysis.

Single cell metabolomics using mass spectrometry can contribute to understanding biological activities in health and disease.

Non-destructive spatial characterization of lipid droplets using coherent Raman scattering microscopy and computational image analysis algorithms at the single-cell level.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) offers single live cell activities along its topography toward cellular physiology and pathology.

This review highlights the advances in single cell manipulation and biochemical analysis on microfluidics over the past three years.

Fractal nanostructures exhibit optical properties that span the visible to far-infrared and are emerging as exciting structures for plasmon-mediated applications.

Mid-infrared (MIR) fibre-optics may play a future role in in vivo diagnosis of disease, including cancer.

Cerium-based materials possess redox properties due to the presence of dual valence states of Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺.

The binding targets of aptamers, the interaction probing methods, and the main binding forces mediating the interaction have been summarized.

Lipidomics is used to describe the complete lipid profile and network of cellular lipid metabolism. Traditionally, lipids are recognized as general membrane construction and energy storage molecules. Now, lipids are regarded as potent signaling molecules that regulate a multitude of cellular responses.

The applications of MOFs-based luminescent sensors for biomolecules sensing via a “turn on” or “turn off” response have been reviewed.

A suite of direct spectroscopic imaging techniques using synchrotron light can provide increased biochemical insight into brain disease.

We review chemo-chronometric assays, in which the time factor—rather than analogue signals—is used to determine concentrations of analytes.

Ambient Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis is widely used to characterize biological and non-biological samples.

The integration of photonic crystals and plasmonics enhances the performance of bioanalytical applications.

Protein mass spectrometry (MS) is an indispensable tool to detect molecular signatures that can be associated with cellular dysregulation and disease.

Application of new nanomaterials to detection of enzymatic activities allows the development of new sensitive and selective bioanalytical assays based on enzymes for recognition and signal amplification.

The emergence of a wide range of applications of smartphones along with advances in ‘liquid biopsy’ has significantly propelled medical research particularly in the field of in vitro diagnostics (IVD).

Gas generation-based measurement is an attractive alternative approach for POC (Point-of-care) testing, which relies on the amount of generated gas to detect the corresponding target concentrations.

Modern quantum technology experiences currently extensive advances in its applicability in communications, cryptography, computing, metrology and lithography. Harnessing this technology platform for chem/bio sensing scenarios is an appealing possibility to enable ultra-sensitive detection schemes.

Sample preparation is a primary step of any bioanalytical workflow, especially in metabolomics where maximum information has to be obtained without spoiling the analytical instrument. The sample extraction of polar metabolites is still challenging but strategies exist to enable the phase transfer of hydrophilic metabolites from the biological phase to a clean interference-free phase.

The synthesis and modification strategies of CDs are summarized, and their applications, challenges and future prospects in advanced biosensors are discussed.

This review discusses the recent developments in microfluidics technology for antimicrobial susceptibility testing with a special emphasis on the nucleic acid amplification-based approach.

This tutorial review provides an overview of common chemometric methods, and their potential uses within forensic science for evidence interpretation and optimisation of analytical procedures.

This tutorial review provides an overview of key concepts in metabolomics and their application to develop successful strategies in regulatory toxicology-oriented studies.

The applications of Raman microscopies, such as spontaneous Raman scattering microscopy and coherent Raman scattering microscopy, used to evaluate skin and research trends are presented.

In this review, the research progress of the sensors based on the DNA-nanozymes were summarized.

The constantly growing field of True One Cell (TOC) analysis has provided important information on the direct chemical composition of various cells and cellular components.

Quantifying and regulating oxygen in a microphysiological models can be achieved via an array of technologies, and is an essential component of recapitulating tissue-specific microenvironments.

Fluorescent organic nanoparticle (FON)-based chemosensors are emerging as a valuable tool for the fast and accurate detection of metal ions in aqueous media. In this review, we highlight the recent developments in this field.

The response is what makes a sensor. In this review the methods for characterizing the response are laid out.

The pressure-driven gas-diffusion/permeation micropump is highlighted for stable microdroplet/liquid delivery under extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, and a three-dimensional, long-distance and complex-topology microchannel.

Single-system based optical sensors can realize discrimination through multi-wavelength cross-reactive responses by different strategies.

We review the advances in the integration of quantum dots with various nanomaterials for biomedical and environmental applications.

The early diagnosis and monitoring of the progress of cancers are limited due to the lack of adequate screening tools.

A review of the uses of saliva biomarkers, detection methods and requirements for new biomarkers.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) presents a promising possibility for analyzing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its low reagent consumption, high analysis speed, and enhanced efficiency.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) will provide a key element of disease surveillance. Their rapid turnaround, low cost, and accessibility in resource limited areas will help increase public health reporting and facilitate outbreak containment.

We outline the achievements and remaining challenges of mass spectrometry-based tissue spatial proteomics. Exciting technology developments along with important biomedical applications of spatial proteomics are highlighted.

Selective-sampling Raman Imaging enables intraoperative assessment of excised surgical margins in cancer surgery, a review.

The cost-effective rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases is an essential and important factor for curing such diseases in the global public health care picture.

The review describes the design, application and performance of current smartphone-based colorimeters, photo- and spectrometers and fluorimeters. Furthermore, it gives an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of such systems.

We explore the endeavours directed to the development of electrochemical-based sensors for the determination of capsaicin and related compounds, starting from their use in hyphenated laboratory set-ups to their modern use as stand-alone electroanalytical sensors.

Optical sensors are always fascinating for chemists due to their selectivity, sensitivity, robustness and cost-effective nature.

Sepsis is a complex disorder of immune system response to infections that can be caused by a wide range of clinical contexts.

AuNPs have been widely used in mycotoxin detection including ELISA, optical-based sensors, electrochemical-based sensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based sensors, mass-based sensors and other sensors.

Schematic of two main research directions of lateral flow assays for nucleic acid detection.

Recent advances in wearable sensors for dietary monitoring and saliva analysis are presented to discuss super-aged/aging societies, non-face-to-face social life, and global pandemic disease issues toward personalized healthcare and digital medicine.