Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring
The precise monitoring of environmental contaminants and agricultural plant stress factors, respectively responsible for damages to our ecosystems and crop losses, has nowadays become a topic of uttermost importance. This is also highlighted by the recent introduction of the so-called “Sustainable D...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/11/4178 |
| _version_ | 1797491626416799744 |
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| author | Giulia Elli Saleh Hamed Mattia Petrelli Pietro Ibba Manuela Ciocca Paolo Lugli Luisa Petti |
| author_facet | Giulia Elli Saleh Hamed Mattia Petrelli Pietro Ibba Manuela Ciocca Paolo Lugli Luisa Petti |
| author_sort | Giulia Elli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The precise monitoring of environmental contaminants and agricultural plant stress factors, respectively responsible for damages to our ecosystems and crop losses, has nowadays become a topic of uttermost importance. This is also highlighted by the recent introduction of the so-called “Sustainable Development Goals” of the United Nations, which aim at reducing pollutants while implementing more sustainable food production practices, leading to a reduced impact on all ecosystems. In this context, the standard methods currently used in these fields represent a sub-optimal solution, being expensive, laboratory-based techniques, and typically requiring trained personnel with high expertise. Recent advances in both biotechnology and material science have led to the emergence of new sensing (and biosensing) technologies, enabling low-cost, precise, and real-time detection. An especially interesting category of biosensors is represented by field-effect transistor-based biosensors (bio-FETs), which enable the possibility of performing in situ, continuous, selective, and sensitive measurements of a wide palette of different parameters of interest. Furthermore, bio-FETs offer the possibility of being fabricated using innovative and sustainable materials, employing various device configurations, each customized for a specific application. In the specific field of environmental and agricultural monitoring, the exploitation of these devices is particularly attractive as it paves the way to early detection and intervention strategies useful to limit, or even completely avoid negative outcomes (such as diseases to animals or ecosystems losses). This review focuses exactly on bio-FETs for environmental and agricultural monitoring, highlighting the recent and most relevant studies. First, bio-FET technology is introduced, followed by a detailed description of the the most commonly employed configurations, the available device fabrication techniques, as well as the specific materials and recognition elements. Then, examples of studies employing bio-FETs for environmental and agricultural monitoring are presented, highlighting in detail advantages and disadvantages of available examples. Finally, in the discussion, the major challenges to be overcome (e.g., short device lifetime, small sensitivity and selectivity in complex media) are critically presented. Despite the current limitations and challenges, this review clearly shows that bio-FETs are extremely promising for new and disruptive innovations in these areas and others. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:51:59Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:51:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c5f696021494c86b649a56277c2f23e2023-11-23T14:49:50ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-05-012211417810.3390/s22114178Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural MonitoringGiulia Elli0Saleh Hamed1Mattia Petrelli2Pietro Ibba3Manuela Ciocca4Paolo Lugli5Luisa Petti6Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyThe precise monitoring of environmental contaminants and agricultural plant stress factors, respectively responsible for damages to our ecosystems and crop losses, has nowadays become a topic of uttermost importance. This is also highlighted by the recent introduction of the so-called “Sustainable Development Goals” of the United Nations, which aim at reducing pollutants while implementing more sustainable food production practices, leading to a reduced impact on all ecosystems. In this context, the standard methods currently used in these fields represent a sub-optimal solution, being expensive, laboratory-based techniques, and typically requiring trained personnel with high expertise. Recent advances in both biotechnology and material science have led to the emergence of new sensing (and biosensing) technologies, enabling low-cost, precise, and real-time detection. An especially interesting category of biosensors is represented by field-effect transistor-based biosensors (bio-FETs), which enable the possibility of performing in situ, continuous, selective, and sensitive measurements of a wide palette of different parameters of interest. Furthermore, bio-FETs offer the possibility of being fabricated using innovative and sustainable materials, employing various device configurations, each customized for a specific application. In the specific field of environmental and agricultural monitoring, the exploitation of these devices is particularly attractive as it paves the way to early detection and intervention strategies useful to limit, or even completely avoid negative outcomes (such as diseases to animals or ecosystems losses). This review focuses exactly on bio-FETs for environmental and agricultural monitoring, highlighting the recent and most relevant studies. First, bio-FET technology is introduced, followed by a detailed description of the the most commonly employed configurations, the available device fabrication techniques, as well as the specific materials and recognition elements. Then, examples of studies employing bio-FETs for environmental and agricultural monitoring are presented, highlighting in detail advantages and disadvantages of available examples. Finally, in the discussion, the major challenges to be overcome (e.g., short device lifetime, small sensitivity and selectivity in complex media) are critically presented. Despite the current limitations and challenges, this review clearly shows that bio-FETs are extremely promising for new and disruptive innovations in these areas and others.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/11/4178bio-FETsenvironmental pollutantsplant stressessensorstransistorsthin-film fabrication |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Elli Saleh Hamed Mattia Petrelli Pietro Ibba Manuela Ciocca Paolo Lugli Luisa Petti Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring Sensors bio-FETs environmental pollutants plant stresses sensors transistors thin-film fabrication |
| title | Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring |
| title_full | Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring |
| title_fullStr | Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring |
| title_full_unstemmed | Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring |
| title_short | Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensors for Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring |
| title_sort | field effect transistor based biosensors for environmental and agricultural monitoring |
| topic | bio-FETs environmental pollutants plant stresses sensors transistors thin-film fabrication |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/11/4178 |
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