Harnessing biomaterials for advanced biosensor and bioelectronic devices development: From natural chromophores to biodegradable substrates and peptide-based detection of nanoplastics

Biomaterials play a crucial role in advancing biosensor technologies for medical, environmental, and food safety applications. This study investigates natural biomaterials, such as food-derived chromophores, cellulose, and peptides, for high-performance biosensors and bioelectronic devices. Chromophores, namely grape anthocyanins, are potential candidates for the development of artificial retinal devices showing light-responsivity at 435 nm, close to the human blue cone photoreceptors (420 nm), and transient photo-current signals of 15 nA/mm2 (20 ms, blue-light pulse). Realized cellulose-silk fibroin (SF:CNCs)-based biodegradable substrates are suitable for flexible and sustainable optoelectronic devices, showing transmittance over 40% (400 and 800 nm) and good stress at break (60 MPa at 5%). Peptides, derived from enzymes, are used as biorecognition elements in EGOFETs for detecting polystyrene nanoplastics with a sensitivity of 60.3%/(mg/ml). Through the use of chromophores, SF:CNCs-based substrates, and peptide, new biosensors are developed displaying promising applications in biomedicine, green electronics, and environmental pollution-monitoring.