Nanomaterial-based biosensors for a real-time detection of biological damage by UV light.

In this work, the design and fabrication of a miniaturized and light-weight biosensor that can be used to monitor the biological effects of hostile ultraviolet radiation in earth and space are presented. The biosensor is generated by embedding a sensitive element to UV radiation, DNA, in a hybrid carbon-based nanomaterial. In particular, we present results on the fabrication and characterization of hybrid nanostructured films containing graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and double-stranded DNA for the in situ and real-time detection of UV radiation damaging effects from the changes of the film electrical properties induced by exposure to UV-C radiation. The biosensor is realized by the deposition of the sensitive unit GNP/DNA on a supporting substrate made of flexible polymers or glass.