**3.2 Gold nanostructures**

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) such as gold and silver NPs have gained immense recognition in nanosensing and diagnostic applications [24, 25]. Therefore, ease of synthesis, versatile surface functionalization and long term stability of gold nanomaterials increases their potential as efficient detection probes [26].

Gold nanostars modified with biotin were used for streptavidin determination [27]. Sensing applications using other shapes of gold nanomaterials include the use of gold nanowires and nanocubes for detection of bacteria in human kidney infection and catechol, respectively [28, 29].

Gold nanorods have also employed as a SERS substrate where in they have achieved highly sensitive and selective detection of DNA [30].

It has been reported that the nanosensor based on gold nanorodes is highly reproducible and has excellent selectivity. It was also reported the nanosensing platform is reliable, facile, cost-effective and less labor intensive. The nanomaterial with aspect ratio tunable property can be possibly used for several biomedical applications.

**Figure 3** illusrates TEM and SEM images of some kind of gold nanosructures [27–30].

#### **Figure 3.**

*TEM (A,B) and SEM (C,D) images of gold nanostar (A) [27], gold nanorods (B) [28], gold nanoparticle (C) [29] and gold nanowire (D) [30].*

**177**

**3.4 Nanozymes**

**Figure 4.**

electrochemical biosensing.

zyme-based immunoassay.

both tunable and tenable catalytic activity [46, 47].

*The Novel Nanomaterials Based Biosensors and Their Applications*

**Figure 4** illustrates surface characterization of ZrP [10].

Recently, inorganic nanostructured materials have gained widespread attention as potential electrode materials of electrochemical sensors with excellent structural

In the past few years, binary metal oxides (denoted BMOs) are considered as one of the state-of-the-art electrocatalyst materials for various electrochemical applications [33, 34]. Among the different categories of BMOs, transition-metal phosphates/ phosphides (denoted TMPs) have attracted increasing attention as a promising electrocatalyst [35–37]. Ultrathin cobalt phosphate-based modified electrode was used for the non enzymatic electrochemical determination of glucose [38]. α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) based electrocatalysts have been recognized as crucial for numerous electrochemical applications [39]. The sensitive electrochemical sensing probe using the ZrP nanoplates was successfully applied for Furazolidone detection [10].

In the last decade, artificial nanomaterials, which exhibit properties similar to enzymes, have been shown as highly stable and low-cost alternatives to enzymes in

**Figure 5** illustrates the schematic presentation of the enzyme-based and nano-

Nanozymes, combining the advantages of chemical catalysts and enzymes [40, 41], outperform natural enzymes because they are usually synthetized using low-cost, simple, and mass-production methods and offer high operational stability and self-life, robust catalytic performance [42–45]. Moreover, the smooth surface modification of nanomaterials provides more room for modifications than the natural enzymes. In addition, their inherent nanomaterial properties impart them

*(A*−*C) FEG-SEM image, (D*−*F) TEM images, (G) EDX spectrum, and (H*−*J) elemental mapping of ZrP.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94930*

adjustability and other properties [31, 32].

**3.3 Inorganic novel nanomaterials**

*The Novel Nanomaterials Based Biosensors and Their Applications DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94930*
