Sustainable and Renewable Nano-biocomposites for Sensors and Actuators: A Review on Preparation and Performance

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nano-materials derived from sustainable and biodegradable polymers, are the most attractive materials among the researchers. Polymeric nano-biocomposites (PNBCs) are a specific class of materials derived by combining nanosized fillers with polymer materials and the most commonly used nano-fillers were hydroxyapatite, organic or inorganic metal nanoparticles, clays and so on. METHODS: Many of the recent researches rendered its focus towards the utilization of biopolymer based hydrogel materials for the fabrication of analyte sensors and electrode modifiers owing to their high permeability nature and faster, mobilization of electrons. Such biopolymer hydrogelutilize newer printing methods in electrode prototyping, which renders portable, flexible, and advanced bioelectronics sensor with high performance characteristics. Few researchers have also stated the use of polyaniline reinforced biocomposites for the fabrication of electro-chemical sensors and actuators because of their advantageous properties, which makes them a potential material choice for electronics applications. RESULTS: Nano-particles of polyaniline were proved to improve the detection limit and sensitivity of the sensor even when used for recognizing a single molecules. Bionanocomposites possess excellent thermo-mechanical properties in the designed nanocomposite, even at low nanoparticle concentrations. In fact, these materials have high hardness and stability, giving rise to excellent mechanical characteristics. Furthermore, the incorporation of nanoparticles into a biopolymeric matrix enhanced its electrical conductivity, barrier properties, and consistency. Also, the powerful interaction between biopolymers and functional groups of nanoparticles increased the strength of bio-nanocomposites. CONCLUSION: Nanobiocomposites based biosensors were found to possess high specificity, sensitivity, and wider target spectrum. Current review deals with the use of sustainable and renewable biocomposites for the preparation of biosensors and actuators, their properties like sensitivity, limit of detection, advantages over the synthetic material and environmental hazards.