Researchers develop excellent graphene-based aptasensors

Korean researchers developed a liquid-ion gated FET-type graphene-based aptasensor with highly sensitive and selective responses to various mercury ion concentrations. This sensor was shown to be a good detector of mercury in mussels.

Aptasensors are bio-sensors that use aptamers (artificial oligonucleotides: DNA or RNA) as a recognition element. The sensors developed in korea used a single-layer graphene sheet that was functionalized using an aptamer. This sensor is not just very sensitive and fast, but it’s also flexible and highly stable mechanically.