Single-walled carbon nanotubes as optical materials for biosensing

In this review, we summarize recent progress in the development of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as optical materials for biosensing applications. First, as optical labels, we discuss the use of SWNTs in Raman-based protein detection. Strong and simple resonance Raman spectroscopy of SWNTs opens up a method of protein microarray with detection sensitivity down to femtomolar range. Also, tunable isotopic SWNT-Raman signature enables the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes in complex fluids. Second, the photoluminescence properties of SWNTs are also explored. We examine fluorescence biosensors that integrate the quenching property of SWNTs and the recognition property of functional nucleic acids. Particularly, SWNTs are established as an efficient signal transduction substrate in different biosensing systems, including the detection of specific proteins and DNA sequences, regulation of singlet oxygen generation and label-free fluorescence assays, and all have exhibited very high selectivity and sensitivity.