Development of QDs-based nanosensors for heavy metal detection: A review on transducer principles and in-situ detection

Xinyi Wang; Liubing Kong; Shuqi Zhou; Chiyu Ma; Wencheng Lin; Xianyou Sun; Dmitry Kirsanov; Andrey Legin; Hao Wan; Ping Wang

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122903

Development of QDs-based nanosensors for heavy metal detection: A review on transducer principles and in-situ detection

Talanta. 2022 Mar 1:239:122903. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122903. Epub 2021 Sep 23.

Authors

Xinyi Wang¹, Liubing Kong², Shuqi Zhou², Chiyu Ma², Wencheng Lin², Xianyou Sun², Dmitry Kirsanov³, Andrey Legin³, Hao Wan⁴, Ping Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China; Laboratory of Chemical Sensors, Chemistry Department, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034, Russia.
² Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
³ Laboratory of Chemical Sensors, Chemistry Department, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034, Russia.
⁴ Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China; Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China. Electronic address: wh1816@zju.edu.cn.
⁵ Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China; Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China. Electronic address: cnpwang@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 34857381
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122903

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution has severe threats to the ecological environment and human health. Thus, it is urgent to achieve the rapid, selective, sensitive and portable detection of heavy metal ions. To overcome the defects of traditional methods such as time-consuming, low sensitivity, high cost and complicated operation, QDs (Quantum dots)-based nanomaterials have been used in sensors to significantly improve the sensing performance. Due to their excellent physicochemical properties, high specific surface area, high adsorption and reactive capacity, nanomaterials could act as potential probes or offer enhanced sensitivity and create a promising nanosensors platform. In this review, the rapidly advancing types of QDs for heavy metal ions detection are first summarized. Modified with ligands, nanomaterials, or biomaterials, QDs are assembled on sensors by the interaction of electrostatic adsorption, chemical bonding, steric hindrance, and base-pairing. The stability of QDs-based nanosensors is improved by doping the elements to QDs, providing the reference substance, optimizing the assemble strategies and so on. Then, according to transducer principles, the two most typical sensor categories based on QDs: optical and electrochemical sensors are highlighted to be discussed. In the meanwhile, portable devices combining with QDs to adapt the practical detection in complex situations are summarized. The deficiencies and future challenges of QDs in toxicity, specificity, portability, multi-metal co-detection and degradation during the detection are also pointed out. In the end, the development trends of QDs-based nanosensors for heavy metal ions detection are discussed. This review presents an overall understanding, recent advances, current challenges and future outlook of QDs-based nanosensors for heavy metal detection.

Keywords: Heavy metal; Nanotechnology; Optical and electrochemical sensors; Portable devices; Quantum dots.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Ions
Metals, Heavy*
Nanostructures*
Quantum Dots*
Transducers

Substances

Ions
Metals, Heavy