Graphene aptasensor for detecting mercury in mussels

(Nanowerk News) Researchers in South Korea have fabricated a liquid-ion gated FET-type graphene-based aptasensor with highly sensitive and selective responses to various mercury ion concentrations.
They reported their finding in a recent edition of ACS Nano ("High-Performance Flexible Graphene Aptasensor for Mercury Detection in Mussels").
Synthetic protocol of flexible graphene-based aptasensor on PEN film
Synthetic protocol of flexible graphene-based aptasensor on PEN film. (© ACS)
The aptasensors consisted of a single layer graphene, with the surface of the graphene functionalized using an aptamer that binds specifically to Hg2รพ ions. The sensing capability of the aptasensor was demonstrated by real-time responses and showed an unprecedented minimum detectable level (10 pM) and rapid response time of less than 1 second. Moreover, the aptasensor showed outstanding selectivity in mixed solutions containing eight other metal ions. On the basis of the sensing performances of aptasensor, the graphene aptasensor was applied to detect mercury ions in real world samples, leading to the outstanding mercury selectivity from mussels.
In addition, the aptasensor also had excellent mechanical stability and was highly flexible. From these results, liquid-ion gated FET-type graphene-based aptasensor can offer an advanced methodology for state-of-the art mercury analyzing devices and be broadly used for analytical real-sample applications.
Source: American Chemical Society