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Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications

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A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensor Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2026 | Viewed by 20670

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vinh Van Tran

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Laser and Thermal Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
Interests: biosensors; chemical sensors; hydrogels; organic field-effect transistors; conjugated polymers; photo-catalyts
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the first volume of the Special Issue entitled "Conjugated Polymers-Based Biosensors for Virus Detection", we are pleased to announce a new edition, entitled "Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications". This Special Issue will continue to explore the innovative use of polymer materials in the development of biosensors and bioelectronic devices.

As the need for sensitive and selective detection methods grows in fields such as healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food safety, polymers have become indispensable materials. Their unique properties—such as flexibility, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization—make them highly suitable for these applications.

This Special Issue will focus on recent advancements in the design, fabrication, and application of polymer-based biosensors and bioelectronic systems. We welcome the submission of original research articles, reviews, and short communications addressing a range of topics, including novel polymeric materials, integration techniques, sensing mechanisms, and practical applications in diagnostics and monitoring.

By gathering diverse contributions from researchers and industry experts, we aim to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange in this rapidly evolving field. We believe that this Special Issue will be a valuable resource for scientists and engineers working at the intersection of polymer science, biosensing technology, and bioelectronics, ultimately contributing to the advancement of next-generation sensing solutions.

Dr. Vinh Van Tran
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biosensors is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

polymers-based biosensor
gas sensor
transistor-based biosensor
organic field-effect transistors (OFETs)
conductive polymers
organic electronics
smart materials (self-healable materials, hydrogels)

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 7832 KB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Adaptive Polymer Fabry–Pérot Thermometer for High-Sensitivity and Wide-Linear-Range Sensing

by Yifan Cheng, Maolin Yu, Junjie Liu, Yingling Tan and Jinhui Chen

Biosensors 2025, 15(9), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15090602 - 12 Sep 2025

Viewed by 619

Abstract

Fiber-optic temperature sensors with advantages such as simplicity, low cost, and high sensitivity have attracted increasing attention. In this work, we propose a self-adaptive polymer Fabry–Pérot interferometer (PFPI) sensor for ultrasensitive and wide-linear-range thermal sensing. This design achieves a temperature sensitivity of 0.95 nm/°C, representing an enhancement of two orders of magnitude compared to conventional fiber Bragg gratings. To address the challenge of spectral shifts exceeding the free spectral range due to the high sensitivity, a local cross-correlation algorithm is introduced for accurate wavelength tracking. We demonstrate ultrahigh-resolution (0.025 °C) scanning thermal field imaging and sensitive human physiological monitoring, including precise body temperature and respiratory rate detection. These results highlight the dual capability of our PFPI sensor for both microscopic thermal mapping and non-invasive healthcare applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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22 pages, 2504 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fluorogenic Biosensing with Tunable Polydiacetylene Vesicles

by John S. Miller, Tanner J. Finney, Ethan Ilagan, Skye Frank, Ye Chen-Izu, Keishi Suga and Tonya L. Kuhl

Biosensors 2025, 15(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15010027 - 7 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2061

Abstract

Polydiacetylenes (PDAs) are conjugated polymers that are well known for their colorimetric transition from blue to red with the application of energetic stimulus. Sensing platforms based on polymerized diacetylene surfactant vesicles and other structures have been widely demonstrated for various colorimetric biosensing applications. Although less studied and utilized, the transition also results in a change from a non-fluorescent to a highly fluorescent state, making polydiacetylenes useful for both colorimetric and fluorogenic sensing applications. Here, we focus on the characterization and optimization of polydiacetylene vesicles to tune their sensitivity for fluorogenic sensing applications. Particularly, we look at how the structure of the diacetylene (DA) hydrocarbon tail and headgroup affect the self-assembled vesicle size and stability, polymerization kinetics, and the fluorogenic, blue to red phase transition. Longer DA acyl tails generally resulted in smaller and more stable vesicles. The polymerization kinetics and the blue to red transition were a function of both the DA acyl tail length and structure of the headgroup. Decreasing the acyl tail length generally led to vesicles that were more sensitive to energetic stimuli. Headgroup modifications had different effects depending on the structure of the headgroup. Ethanolamine headgroups resulted in vesicles with potentially increased stimuli responsivity. The lower energy stimulus to induce the chromatic transition was attributed to an increase in headgroup hydrogen bonding and polymer backbone strain. Boronic-acid headgroup functionalization led to vesicles that were generally unstable, only weakly polymerized, and unable to fully transform to the red phase due to strong polar, aromatic headgroup interactions. This work presents the design of PDA vesicles in the context of biosensing platforms and includes a discussion of the past, present, and future of PDA biosensing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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12 pages, 4552 KB

Open AccessArticle

Concave Magnetic-Responsive Hydrogel Discs for Enhanced Bioassays

by Amin Ghaffarzadeh Bakhshayesh and Huiyan Li

Biosensors 2024, 14(12), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14120596 - 5 Dec 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

Receptor-based biosensors often suffer from slow analyte diffusion, leading to extended assay times. Moreover, existing methods to enhance diffusion can be complex and costly. In response to this challenge, we presented a rapid and cost-effective technique for fabricating concave magnetic-responsive hydrogel discs (CMDs) by straightforward pipetting directly onto microscope glass slides. This approach enables immediate preparation and customization of hydrogel properties such as porosity, magnetic responsiveness, and embedded particles and is adaptable for use with microarray printers. The concave design increased the surface area by 43% compared to conventional hemispherical hydrogels, enhancing diffusion rates and accelerating reactions. By incorporating superparamagnetic particles, the hydrogels become magnetically responsive, allowing for stirring within reagent droplets using magnets to improve mixing. Our experimental results showed that CMDs dissolved approximately 2.5 times faster than hemispherical ones. Numerical simulations demonstrated up to a 46% improvement in diffusion speed within the hydrogel. Particles with lower diffusion coefficients, like human antibodies, benefited most from the concave design, resulting in faster biosensor responses. The increased surface area and ease of fabrication make our CMDs efficient and adaptable for various biological and biomedical applications, particularly in point-of-care diagnostics where rapid and accurate biomarker detection is critical. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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Review

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29 pages, 1649 KB

Open AccessReview

Polymer-Based Gas Sensors for Detection of Disease Biomarkers in Exhaled Breath

by Guangjie Shao, Yanjie Wang, Zhiqiang Lan, Jie Wang, Jian He, Xiujian Chou, Kun Zhu and Yong Zhou

Biosensors 2026, 16(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16010007 (registering DOI) - 22 Dec 2025

Abstract

Exhaled breath analysis has gained considerable interest as a noninvasive diagnostic tool capable of detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inorganic gases that serve as biomarkers for various diseases. Polymer-based gas sensors have garnered significant attention due to their high sensitivity, room-temperature operation, excellent flexibility, and tunable chemical properties. This review comprehensively summarized recent advancements in polymer-based gas sensors for the detection of disease biomarkers in exhaled breath. The gas-sensing mechanism of polymers, along with novel gas-sensitive materials such as conductive polymers, polymer composites, and functionalized polymers was examined in detail. Moreover, key applications in diagnosing diseases, including asthma, chronic kidney disease, lung cancer, and diabetes, were highlighted through detecting specific biomarkers. Furthermore, current challenges related to sensor selectivity, stability, and interference from environmental humidity were discussed, and potential solutions were proposed. Future perspectives were offered on the development of next-generation polymer-based sensors, including the integration of machine learning for data analysis and the design of electronic-nose (e-nose) sensor arrays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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26 pages, 3841 KB

Open AccessReview

Polymer-Mediated Signal Amplification Mechanisms for Bioelectronic Detection: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

by Ying Sun and Dan Gao

Biosensors 2025, 15(12), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15120808 - 11 Dec 2025

Viewed by 366

Abstract

In recent years, polymer-mediated signal amplification has drawn wide attention in bioelectronic sensing. With the rapid progress of biosensing and flexible electronics, polymers with excellent electron–ion transport properties, tunable molecular structures, and good biocompatibility have become essential materials for enhancing detection sensitivity and interfacial stability. However, current sensing systems still face challenges such as signal attenuation, surface fouling, and multi-component interference in complex biological environments, limiting their use in medical diagnosis and environmental monitoring. This review summarizes the progress of conductive polymers, molecularly imprinted polymers, hydrogels, and composite polymers in medical diagnosis, food safety, and environmental monitoring, focusing on their signal amplification mechanisms and structural optimization strategies in electronic transport regulation, molecular recognition enhancement, and antifouling interface design. Overall, polymers improve detection performance through interfacial electronic reconstruction and multidimensional synergistic amplification, offering new ideas for developing highly sensitive, stable, and intelligent biosensors. In the future, polymer-based amplification systems are expected to expand in multi-parameter integrated detection, long-term wearable monitoring, and in situ analysis of complex samples, providing new approaches to precision medicine and sustainable environmental health monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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34 pages, 3756 KB

Open AccessReview

Smart Nucleic Acid Hydrogel-Based Biosensors: From Molecular Recognition and Responsive Mechanisms to Applications

by Lu Xu, Longjiao Zhu, Xiaoyu Wang, Wenqiang Zhang, Xiaoyun He, Yangzi Zhang and Wentao Xu

Biosensors 2025, 15(12), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15120799 - 5 Dec 2025

Viewed by 569

Abstract

Smart nucleic acid hydrogels (SNAHs), endowed with stimulus responsiveness, function as programmable molecular switches that can perceive diverse external stimuli and undergo rapid, reversible, and highly specific conformational or performance changes. These dynamic properties have enabled the rational design of biosensors with bionic behaviors, facilitating cascaded “recognition–decision–execution” processes that support advanced biological analysis. Consequently, SNAHs are recognized as a core breakthrough for the next generation of intelligent biosensing units. However, a systematic mapping between SNAH design strategies, specific stimuli, and application fields remains lacking. This review mainly analyzes advances in SNAH-based biosensors over the past five years, proposing flexible and feasible design strategies and key trends in customization. Firstly, we systematically summarize molecular recognition modules involved in the construction of SNAHs, including aptamers, DNAzymes, antibodies, and specific binding peptides. Subsequently, we elaborate on the responses of these modules to external stimuli, so as to further facilitate the signal transduction of signals derived from physical, chemical, and biological sources involving temperature, light, magnetic fields, pH, nucleic acids, proteins, other biomolecules, and pathogens. Additionally, the review outlines the research progress of SNAHs in environmental monitoring, food safety, and medical diagnostics. Finally, we provide an integrated perspective on future opportunities and challenges, highlighting the innovative framework for designing SNAH-based biosensors and offering a practical roadmap for next-generation intelligent sensing applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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47 pages, 15990 KB

Open AccessReview

Single-Molecule Detection Technologies: Advances in Devices, Transduction Mechanisms, and Functional Materials for Real-World Biomedical and Environmental Applications

by Sampa Manoranjan Barman, Arpita Parakh, A. Anny Leema, P. Balakrishnan, Ankita Avthankar, Dhiraj P. Tulaskar, Purshottam J. Assudani, Shon Nemane, Prakash Rewatkar, Madhusudan B. Kulkarni and Manish Bhaiyya

Biosensors 2025, 15(10), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15100696 - 14 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1746

Abstract

Single-molecule detection (SMD) has reformed analytical science by enabling the direct observation of individual molecular events, thus overcoming the limitations of ensemble-averaged measurements. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the principles, devices, and emerging materials that have shaped the current landscape of SMD. We explore a wide range of sensing mechanisms, including surface plasmon resonance, mechanochemical transduction, transistor-based sensing, optical microfiber platforms, fluorescence-based techniques, Raman scattering, and recognition tunneling, which offer distinct advantages in terms of label-free operation, ultrasensitivity, and real-time responsiveness. Each technique is critically examined through representative case studies, revealing how innovations in device architecture and signal amplification strategies have collectively pushed the detection limits into the femtomolar to attomolar range. Beyond the sensing principles, this review highlights the transformative role of advanced nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, MnO₂ nanosheets, upconversion nanocrystals, and magnetic nanoparticles. These materials enable new transduction pathways and augment the signal strength, specificity, and integration into compact and wearable biosensing platforms. We also detail the multifaceted applications of SMD across biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food safety, neuroscience, materials science, and quantum technologies, underscoring its relevance to global health, safety, and sustainability. Despite significant progress, the field faces several critical challenges, including signal reproducibility, biocompatibility, fabrication scalability, and data interpretation complexity. To address these barriers, we propose future research directions involving multimodal transduction, AI-assisted signal analytics, surface passivation techniques, and modular system design for field-deployable diagnostics. By providing a cross-disciplinary synthesis of device physics, materials science, and real-world applications, this review offers a comprehensive roadmap for the next generation of SMD technologies, poised to impact both fundamental research and translational healthcare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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32 pages, 5916 KB

Open AccessReview

Advances and Innovations in Conjugated Polymer Fluorescent Sensors for Environmental and Biological Detection

by Viet-Duc Phung and Vinh Van Tran

Biosensors 2025, 15(9), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15090580 - 4 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1812

Abstract

Thanks to their multiple outstanding features—such as high fluorescence quantum yield, good photostability, and excellent sensitivity—conjugated polymers (CPs) have emerged as a pioneering class of fluorescent materials for sensing applications, particularly in environmental and biological fields, for the detection of a wide range of environmental pollutants and bioactive compounds. The presence of delocalized π-electrons in the CP backbone significantly enhances sensing performance through a unique phenomenon known as the “molecular wire effect.” As a result, CP-based fluorescent sensors have been extensively developed and employed as exceptional tools for monitoring various analytes in environmental and biological contexts. A deep understanding of their unique properties, fabrication techniques, and recent innovations is essential for guiding the strategic development of advanced CP-based fluorescent sensors, particularly for future point-of-care applications. This study presents a critical review of the key characteristics of fluorescent sensors and highlights several common types of conjugated polymers (CPs) used in their design and fabrication. It summarizes and discusses the main sensing mechanisms, state-of-the-art applications, and recent innovations of CP-based fluorescent sensors for detecting target compounds in environmental and biological fields. Furthermore, potential strategies and future perspectives for designing and developing high-performance CP-based fluorescent sensors are emphasized. By consolidating current scientific evidence, this review aims to support the advancement of highly sensitive fluorescent sensors based on various CP nanoparticles for environmental and biological applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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19 pages, 5119 KB

Open AccessReview

Carbon Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Characteristics, and Quenching as Biocompatible Fluorescent Probes

by Arif Kamal, Seongin Hong and Heongkyu Ju

Biosensors 2025, 15(2), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15020099 - 10 Feb 2025

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6942

Abstract

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), a new class of carbon-based nanomaterials, have emerged as nano-scaled probes with photoluminescence that have an eco-friendly and bio-compatible nature. Their cost-efficient synthesis and high photoluminescence quantum yields make them indispensable due to their application in opto-electronic devices, including biosensors, bioimaging, environmental monitoring, and light sources. This review provides intrinsic properties of CQDs such as their excitation-dependent emission, biocompatibility, and quenching properties. Diverse strategies for their easy synthesis are divided into bottom-up and top-down approaches and detailed herein. In particular, we highlight their luminescence properties, including quenching mechanisms that could even be utilized for the precise and rapid detection of biomolecules. We also discuss methodologies for the mitigation of fluorescence quenching, which is pivotal for the application of CQDs in biosensors and bioimaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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25 pages, 3691 KB

Open AccessReview

Metal–Organic Framework-Based Nanostructures for Electrochemical Sensing of Sweat Biomarkers

by Jing Meng, Moustafa Zahran and Xiaolin Li

Biosensors 2024, 14(10), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14100495 - 12 Oct 2024

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3906

Abstract

Sweat is considered the most promising candidate to replace conventional blood samples for noninvasive sensing. There are many tools and optical and electrochemical methods that can be used for detecting sweat biomarkers. Electrochemical methods are known for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, they need to be optimized in terms of selectivity and catalytic activity. Therefore, electrode modifiers such as nanostructures and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) or combinations of them were examined for boosting the performance of the electrochemical sensors. The MOF structures can be prepared by hydrothermal/solvothermal, sonochemical, microwave synthesis, mechanochemical, and electrochemical methods. Additionally, MOF nanostructures can be prepared by controlling the synthesis conditions or mixing bulk MOFs with nanoparticles (NPs). In this review, we spotlight the previously examined MOF-based nanostructures as well as promising ones for the electrochemical determination of sweat biomarkers. The presence of NPs strongly improves the electrical conductivity of MOF structures, which are known for their poor conductivity. Specifically, Cu-MOF and Co-MOF nanostructures were used for detecting sweat biomarkers with the lowest detection limits. Different electrochemical methods, such as amperometric, voltammetric, and photoelectrochemical, were used for monitoring the signal of sweat biomarkers. Overall, these materials are brilliant electrode modifiers for the determination of sweat biomarkers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers-Based Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Designs and Applications)

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