Supramolecular Sensing Platforms: Techniques for <i>In Vitro</i> Biosensing

Abstract

Supramolecular chemistry is a relatively new field of study that utilizes conventional chemical knowledge to produce new edges of smart materials. One such material use of supramolecular chemistry is the development of sensing platforms. Biologically relevant molecules need frequent assessment both qualitatively and quantitatively to explore several biological processes. In this review, we have discussed supramolecular sensing techniques with key examples of sensing several kinds of bio-analytes and tried to cast light on how molecular design can help in making smart materials. Moreover, how these smart materials have been finally used as sensing platforms has been discussed as well. Several useful spectroscopic, microscopic, visible, and electronic outcomes of sensor materials have been discussed, with a special emphasis on device-based applications. This kind of comprehensive discussion is necessary to widen the scope of sensing technology.

Keywords

• supramolecular chemistry
• bio-sensing
• in vitro assay
• proteins
• nucleic acids
• small bio-molecules