Proteolytic Biosensors with Functional Nanomaterials: Current Approaches and Future Challenges

Proteolytic enzymes are one of the important biomarkers that enable the early diagnosis of several diseases, such as cancers. A specific proteolytic enzyme selectively degrades a certain sequence of a polypeptide. Therefore, a particular proteolytic enzyme can be selectively quantified by changing detectable signals causing degradation of the peptide chain. In addition, by combining polypeptides with various functional nanomaterials, proteolytic enzymes can be measured more sensitively and rapidly. In this paper, proteolytic enzymes that can be measured using a polypeptide degradation method are reviewed and recently studied functional nanomaterials-based proteolytic biosensors are discussed. We anticipate that the proteolytic nanobiosensors addressed in this review will provide valuable information on physiological changes from a cellular level for individual and early diagnosis.

Automated summary

Proteolytic enzymes are important biomarkers for early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. By selectively degrading specific sequences of polypeptides, these enzymes can be quantified by changing detectable signals causing degradation of the peptide chain. Combining polypeptides with functional nanomaterials allows for more sensitive and rapid measurement of proteolytic enzymes. This paper reviews proteolytic enzymes measured using a polypeptide degradation method and discusses recently studied functional nanomaterials-based proteolytic biosensors. The proteolytic nanobiosensors discussed in this review are expected to provide valuable information on physiological changes from a cellular level for individual and early diagnosis.