Advances in the use of nanoelectrode ensembles in analytical chemistry and molecular diagnostics

Nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs) are nanostructured electrochemical devices fabricated by template deposition of gold nanoelements within the pores of a porous membrane. NEEs show remarkable advantages in comparison with conventional electrodes, thanks to their particular geometry. These devices have been firstly used for the direct electrochemical determination of trace iodide in water samples. By exploiting the main advantage of NEEs, that is the high signal-to-background current ratio, it has been possible to reach by direct voltammetry detection limits (DLs) at the submicromolar range. NEEs have been also used as platforms suitable for the fabrication of biosensors for DNA detection where either, the template membrane which surrounds the nanoelectrodes or the nanoelectrodes themselves, are exploited for the immobilization of a biorecognition layer. Moreover, an useful method to protect the gold surface of the nanoelectrodes from the unwanted adsorption of macromolecules has been studied.