molecule and forms a stable reaction. There are a large
number of applications of novel biosensors in research and
development, food safety inspection agencies, food industry,
food producers and policymakers who take an account for
security and food safety (Prasad et al. 2017). However, there
are some disadvantages while using traditional methods for
detection of food quality such as expensiveness, time consumption which requires multiple steps for sample preparation before food quality detection and requirement of skilled
technician and complex instruments which are not accessible
to peoples of rural areas (Koedrith et al. 2014). The field of
nanotechnology possesses capability to have strong impact
in multiple fields such as energy, water, health, agriculture
and food, and this is very profound technology among the
new technologies.
Nanotechnology is the change of dimensions of bulk
phase materials, system and devices at atomic and molecular
level, in 1–100 nm range for developing new characteristics
(Otles and Yalcin 2012; Prasad et al. 2015). Utilization of
nanomaterials in construction of biosensors helps in overcoming the problems associated with old methods. There are
advantages associated with nanosensors in place of old
methods: they are highly sensitive and highly specific, offer
accurate and rapid detection, and they are eco-friendly as
well. Bio-nanosensor technology has the potential to detect
analytes in low amounts (e.g. chemical or biological materials) that are dangerous to animals, humans and plants at a
very low concentration, with very less preparation of sample
and handy instrumentation. In field of agriculture,
nano-based biosensors can offer opportunities for pesticide
detection, drug residues, food-borne pathogens, heavy metal
ions and toxic contaminants in foods in a very less time
span. Also, nanosensors monitor crop stress, antibiotic
resistance, soil conditioning, growth in plants, food quality
and nutrient contents (Teodoro et al. 2010; Tarafdar et al.
2013; Prasad 2014; Prasad et al. 2014, 2015, 2017).
2 Types and Roles of Bio-nanosensors
Narayanan and Sakthivel (2010) has documented the large
number of nanoparticles such as silver, cadmium, gold,
magnetite, silica, titania dioxide, selenium, gold–silver alloy,
copper, cobalt and platinum nanoparticles for formation of
different types of nanosensors. All the metal nanoparticles
and noble metals used are resistant due to corrosion, and
hence, they are used for development of different types of
utility nanosensors named as acoustic wave biosensors,
magnetic biosensor, electrochemical biosensors, nanotubebased sensors, nanowire-based sensors. The functionality of
every nanosensors is different.
• Acoustic nanosensor: It is used for amplification of the
sensing responses and improving the preciseness of the
detection limit.
• Magnetic nanosensor: It uses ferrite materials with
transition metals. Electroactive species are monitored by
electrochemical biosensors that are consumed or produced with activity of biological components.
• Electrochemical nanosensor: They are divided into
potentiometric biosensors and amperometric biosensors.
Potentiometric biosensors are not used frequently for
checking food quality when compared with amperometric
nanosensors having potential to monitor wide range of
target analytes. Potentiometric nanosensors has been
reported to detect monophenolase activity in apple juice
(Dutta et al. 2001), and sucrose concentration detected in
drinks (Rotariu et al. 2002), measuring fruit juices for
isocitrate concentration (Kim and Kim 2003) and determines urea levels in milk (Verma and Singh 2003).
• Calorimetric nanosensor: It gives results of biochemical
reactions in the form of heat absorption or production.
Calorimetric transduction sensors detect heat consumed
or generated in a biological reaction by using heat
detection devices. They are used in detection of food
quality and metabolites produced.
3 Biosynthesis of Bio-nanosensors Using
Metal Nanoparticles
Various categories of metal nanoparticles are involved in the
formation of metal oxide nanoparticles including magnetic
and nonmagnetic, metal sulphide alloy, gold and silver
nanoparticles. All these nanostructures can exist in diverse
shapes such as nanoparticles, nanosheet, nanocomposites,
nanotubes, nanorods, nanoconjugates, nanowires, etc.
4 Forms of Nanomaterials as Nanosensors
As nanosensors have high sensitivity and quick response,
different types of nanomaterials allow quick penetration of
fertilizers and nutrient for plant growth promotion, also act
as nanosensors for quick monitoring of crop status and hence
used in agricultural field such as pesticide detection, pathogen detection, insecticide detection, monitoring the crop
biotic and abiotic stress and regulating plant growth. Predominantly, graphene oxide, multiwalled carbon nanotubes,
multiwalled chitosan nanocomposite and ZnO chitosan
nanocomposite are used enormously in all the mentioned
application.
Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role …
167
number of applications of novel biosensors in research and
development, food safety inspection agencies, food industry,
food producers and policymakers who take an account for
security and food safety (Prasad et al. 2017). However, there
are some disadvantages while using traditional methods for
detection of food quality such as expensiveness, time consumption which requires multiple steps for sample preparation before food quality detection and requirement of skilled
technician and complex instruments which are not accessible
to peoples of rural areas (Koedrith et al. 2014). The field of
nanotechnology possesses capability to have strong impact
in multiple fields such as energy, water, health, agriculture
and food, and this is very profound technology among the
new technologies.
Nanotechnology is the change of dimensions of bulk
phase materials, system and devices at atomic and molecular
level, in 1–100 nm range for developing new characteristics
(Otles and Yalcin 2012; Prasad et al. 2015). Utilization of
nanomaterials in construction of biosensors helps in overcoming the problems associated with old methods. There are
advantages associated with nanosensors in place of old
methods: they are highly sensitive and highly specific, offer
accurate and rapid detection, and they are eco-friendly as
well. Bio-nanosensor technology has the potential to detect
analytes in low amounts (e.g. chemical or biological materials) that are dangerous to animals, humans and plants at a
very low concentration, with very less preparation of sample
and handy instrumentation. In field of agriculture,
nano-based biosensors can offer opportunities for pesticide
detection, drug residues, food-borne pathogens, heavy metal
ions and toxic contaminants in foods in a very less time
span. Also, nanosensors monitor crop stress, antibiotic
resistance, soil conditioning, growth in plants, food quality
and nutrient contents (Teodoro et al. 2010; Tarafdar et al.
2013; Prasad 2014; Prasad et al. 2014, 2015, 2017).
2 Types and Roles of Bio-nanosensors
Narayanan and Sakthivel (2010) has documented the large
number of nanoparticles such as silver, cadmium, gold,
magnetite, silica, titania dioxide, selenium, gold–silver alloy,
copper, cobalt and platinum nanoparticles for formation of
different types of nanosensors. All the metal nanoparticles
and noble metals used are resistant due to corrosion, and
hence, they are used for development of different types of
utility nanosensors named as acoustic wave biosensors,
magnetic biosensor, electrochemical biosensors, nanotubebased sensors, nanowire-based sensors. The functionality of
every nanosensors is different.
• Acoustic nanosensor: It is used for amplification of the
sensing responses and improving the preciseness of the
detection limit.
• Magnetic nanosensor: It uses ferrite materials with
transition metals. Electroactive species are monitored by
electrochemical biosensors that are consumed or produced with activity of biological components.
• Electrochemical nanosensor: They are divided into
potentiometric biosensors and amperometric biosensors.
Potentiometric biosensors are not used frequently for
checking food quality when compared with amperometric
nanosensors having potential to monitor wide range of
target analytes. Potentiometric nanosensors has been
reported to detect monophenolase activity in apple juice
(Dutta et al. 2001), and sucrose concentration detected in
drinks (Rotariu et al. 2002), measuring fruit juices for
isocitrate concentration (Kim and Kim 2003) and determines urea levels in milk (Verma and Singh 2003).
• Calorimetric nanosensor: It gives results of biochemical
reactions in the form of heat absorption or production.
Calorimetric transduction sensors detect heat consumed
or generated in a biological reaction by using heat
detection devices. They are used in detection of food
quality and metabolites produced.
3 Biosynthesis of Bio-nanosensors Using
Metal Nanoparticles
Various categories of metal nanoparticles are involved in the
formation of metal oxide nanoparticles including magnetic
and nonmagnetic, metal sulphide alloy, gold and silver
nanoparticles. All these nanostructures can exist in diverse
shapes such as nanoparticles, nanosheet, nanocomposites,
nanotubes, nanorods, nanoconjugates, nanowires, etc.
4 Forms of Nanomaterials as Nanosensors
As nanosensors have high sensitivity and quick response,
different types of nanomaterials allow quick penetration of
fertilizers and nutrient for plant growth promotion, also act
as nanosensors for quick monitoring of crop status and hence
used in agricultural field such as pesticide detection, pathogen detection, insecticide detection, monitoring the crop
biotic and abiotic stress and regulating plant growth. Predominantly, graphene oxide, multiwalled carbon nanotubes,
multiwalled chitosan nanocomposite and ZnO chitosan
nanocomposite are used enormously in all the mentioned
application.
Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role …
167