Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect recent research and developments in the field of protein/aptamer-based biosensors.
From the time when they were introduced by L.C. Clark, biosensors have dominated the scene of applied scientific research, opening new perspectives in diagnostic and medical techniques, thus improving the quality of life of healthy and sick people. The investigation about sensing and target materials, the biophysical and chemical aspects of signal transduction and amplification, as well as the wide possibility of custom-fit designs, have captured the attention of scientists from different expertise areas. Furthermore, the field of applications is not limited to biomedical research, but it covers, amongst others, environmental and energy harvesting issues. The use, at first, of proteins and, more recently, of aptamers as the sensitive part of the sensor has marked a turning point, improving the device sensitivity and selectivity, which are essential requirements for an early and secure detection. This kind of devices can, in principle, detect each kind of toxin, pathogen and, in general, molecule of interest. In doing so, they are supported by the most efficient trackers, i.e., specific proteins selected by millennia of natural evolution. Furthermore, when the products of a natural evolution are too expensive or ethically unsuitable, an “artificial evolution” can be called. Artificial evolution is the procedure (SELEX) for the selection of aptamers, which are synthetic molecules, so they do not pose ethical problems and are usually cheaper than proteins (antibodies, in particular). This can lead to a massive production, which is essential for a plausible entrance of biosensors in daily life.
The issue aims to collect updated reviews and also original contributions with both a theoretical and an experimental outlook. The manuscripts can deal with, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Electrical and electrochemical biosensors;
• Aptasensors;
• Integrated biosensor systems (lab-on-a-chip);
• Biosolar cells;
• Noise reduction, control, and energy supply;
• Bio-field effect transistors.

Dr. Eleonora Alfinito
Guest Editor

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