THz Detection of Biomolecules in Aqueous Environments—Status and Perspectives for Analysis Under Physiological Conditions and Clinical use

Bioanalytical THz sensing techniques have proven to be an interesting and viable tool for the label-free detection and analysis of biomolecules. However, a major challenge for THz bioanalytics is to perform investigations in the native aqueous environments of the analytes. This review recapitulates...

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Published inJournal of infrared, millimeter and terahertz waves Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 607 - 646
Main Authors Weisenstein, Christian, Wigger, Anna Katharina, Richter, Merle, Sczech, Robert, Bosserhoff, Anja Katrin, Bolívar, Peter Haring
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.06.2021
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Aqueous environments
Aqueous solutions
Biomolecules
Carbohydrates
Classical Electrodynamics
Electrical Engineering
Electronics and Microelectronics
Engineering
Instrumentation
Invited Review Article
Medical research
Nucleotides
Physiology
Spectroscopy
Medical imaging
Hydration
Analysis
Water-protein interactions
Biological
Spectral methods
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Summary:Bioanalytical THz sensing techniques have proven to be an interesting and viable tool for the label-free detection and analysis of biomolecules. However, a major challenge for THz bioanalytics is to perform investigations in the native aqueous environments of the analytes. This review recapitulates the status and future requirements for establishing THz biosensing as a complementary toolbox in the repertoire of standard bioanalytic methods. The potential use in medical research and clinical diagnosis is discussed. Under these considerations, this article presents a comprehensive categorization of biochemically relevant analytes that have been investigated by THz sensing techniques in aqueous media. The detectable concentration levels of ions, carbohydrates, (poly-)nucleotides, active agents, proteins and different biomacromolecules from THz experiments are compared to characteristic physiological concentrations and lower detection limits of state-of-the-art bioanalytical methods. Finally, recent experimental developments and achievements are discussed, which potentially pave the way for THz analysis of biomolecules under clinically relevant conditions.
ISSN:1866-6892
1866-6906
DOI:10.1007/s10762-021-00792-9