title: Prototypes of newly conceived inorganic and biological sensors for health and environmental applications.
abstract: This paper describes the optimal implementation of three newly conceived sensors for both health and environmental applications, utilizing a wide range of detection methods and complex nanocomposites. The first one is inorganic and based on matrices of calcium oxide, the second is based on protein arrays and a third one is based on  Langmuir-Blodgett laccase multi-layers. Special attention was paid to detecting substances significant to the environment (such as carbon dioxide) and medicine (drug administration, cancer diagnosis and prognosis) by means of amperometric, quartz crystal microbalance with frequency (QCM_F) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM_D) technologies. The resulting three implemented nanosensors are described here along with proofs of principle and their corresponding applications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Biophysics and Nanobiotechnology, Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa 16132, Italy. cnicolini@ibf.unige.it
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sartore
authors.forename: Nicola Luigi
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Bragazzi
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bavastrello
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spera
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pechkova
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D042845:Laccase / Q000737:chemistry; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D058525:Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques
chemical_list: D017610:Calcium Compounds; D010087:Oxides; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C016538:lime; D042845:Laccase