Korean researchers developed a liquid-ion gated FET-type graphene-based aptasensor with highly sensitive and selective responses to various mercury ion concentrations. This sensor was shown to be a good detector of mercury in mussels.
Aptasensors are bio-sensors that use aptamers (artificial oligonucleotides: DNA or RNA) as a recognition element. The sensors developed in korea used a single-layer graphene sheet that was functionalized using an aptamer. This sensor is not just very sensitive and fast, but it's also flexible and highly stable mechanically.
Source: Nanowerk.
More info on Aptamers at the US National Library of Medicine
Posted: Dec 11,2013 by Ron Mertens