Nanomaterials have been widely applied in the preparation of electroanalytical biosensors. Due to their small size effect, quantum size effect and surface and interface effect, nanomaterials can remarkably improve the important performance indexes of biosensors, such as stability, repeatability and sensitivity. Furthermore, as a result of different composition, morphology and size of all-kinds of nanomaterials, they play the different roles in the process of the construction of the biosensors. In this review, the role of nanomaterials in electroanalytical biosensors used as the main line, a summary of 105 articles generalizes the main research achievement of electroanalytical biosensors. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.