Preface
vii
The recent advances in the nanoscience field have opened new horizons towards the
development of exciting nanoscale materials with promising applications.[1]
Surface-decorated nanoarchitectures, from functionalized 0D-quantum dots to 3Dprotein nanohybrids, have been successfully used as functional materials for
sensing, energy conversion and theranostic. [2] [3] [4]
In this topical collection, the development of surface-functionalized nanobiosystems
for electrochemical and biomedical applications is comprehensively addressed. The
functionalization strategies of low-dimensional interfaces with biological structures
such as DNA, proteins or genes to construct bioinorganic heterostructures, are
carefully discussed. Furthermore, seminal examples correlate the structural effects
of the interfacial functionalization on the improved catalytic, sensing and biomedical properties of the resulting nanobioassemblies, thus providing valuable
information for the material science, biotechnology and catalysis communities.
In this regard, Guobao Xu and coworkers summarize the most recent developments
as well as the future prospects in photoelectrochemical and electrochemiluminescent
biosensing using TiO2 nanocomposites. Alicia Garcia et al. discuss how the
interfacial interactions of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and DNA molecules can
facilitate the development of nanocarriers and gene delivered vectors as efficient
magnetic hybrids. In this direction, Maria Luisa, Manuel Antuch and their
coworkers, extensively review the use of IONPs-based biomaterials for MRI and
electrochemical applications, respectively. Jose Manuel and collaborators elegantly
describe the crucial role of the surface functionalization of quantum dots (QDs) to
develop highly stable colloidal nanosupensions for biomolecule targeting, luminescent
imaging and drug delivery. The contribution of Pilar Lopez et. al. is particularly
interesting due to the analysis of the interaction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with
living cells and their implication on the proteome and genome. Also, Manuel Cano
and colleagues highlight the bioconjugation of plasmonic nanoparticles with
different biological materials to fabricate efficient biocompatible materials for skin
penetration. Finally Alain R. and collaborators address the role of the synergistic
interactions between different types of proteins and low-dimensional nanomaterials
to assemble superior bioelectrocatalytic nanosystems.
vii
The recent advances in the nanoscience field have opened new horizons towards the
development of exciting nanoscale materials with promising applications.[1]
Surface-decorated nanoarchitectures, from functionalized 0D-quantum dots to 3Dprotein nanohybrids, have been successfully used as functional materials for
sensing, energy conversion and theranostic. [2] [3] [4]
In this topical collection, the development of surface-functionalized nanobiosystems
for electrochemical and biomedical applications is comprehensively addressed. The
functionalization strategies of low-dimensional interfaces with biological structures
such as DNA, proteins or genes to construct bioinorganic heterostructures, are
carefully discussed. Furthermore, seminal examples correlate the structural effects
of the interfacial functionalization on the improved catalytic, sensing and biomedical properties of the resulting nanobioassemblies, thus providing valuable
information for the material science, biotechnology and catalysis communities.
In this regard, Guobao Xu and coworkers summarize the most recent developments
as well as the future prospects in photoelectrochemical and electrochemiluminescent
biosensing using TiO2 nanocomposites. Alicia Garcia et al. discuss how the
interfacial interactions of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and DNA molecules can
facilitate the development of nanocarriers and gene delivered vectors as efficient
magnetic hybrids. In this direction, Maria Luisa, Manuel Antuch and their
coworkers, extensively review the use of IONPs-based biomaterials for MRI and
electrochemical applications, respectively. Jose Manuel and collaborators elegantly
describe the crucial role of the surface functionalization of quantum dots (QDs) to
develop highly stable colloidal nanosupensions for biomolecule targeting, luminescent
imaging and drug delivery. The contribution of Pilar Lopez et. al. is particularly
interesting due to the analysis of the interaction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with
living cells and their implication on the proteome and genome. Also, Manuel Cano
and colleagues highlight the bioconjugation of plasmonic nanoparticles with
different biological materials to fabricate efficient biocompatible materials for skin
penetration. Finally Alain R. and collaborators address the role of the synergistic
interactions between different types of proteins and low-dimensional nanomaterials
to assemble superior bioelectrocatalytic nanosystems.