Protease Biosensors Based on Peptide-Nanocellulose Conjugates: From Molecular Design to Dressing Interface

The development of point of care diagnostic protease sensors applied to wound healing has received increased interest in chronic wound treatment as an interface for chronic wound dressings. Biosensor technology and the use of nanomaterials have grown exponentially in recent years. A biosensor is fundamentally a biomolecule (functioning as a transducer) attached to a transducer surface, which is activated by a biochemical property that prompts a detection signal specific to a target biomarker. For instance, nanomaterials are often derivatized with a biomolecule that provides selectivity and sensitivity for diagnostic biomarkers. Nanocellulose can be prepared as a transducer surface from an assortment of sources like wood and cotton in a variety of physical forms such as nanocrystals, nanocellulose composites, and nanocellulose aerogels that possess ideal properties including biodegradability, biocompatibility, functionality, and a high specific surface area. Interfacing nanocellulosic biosensors with a wound dressing having protease-lowering properties allows in situ sensor detection selectivity and sensitivity to monitor the effectiveness of the dressing and titer of protease removed from the wound.