Speaker
Description
The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has opened new frontiers in the design of diagnostic devices with unprecedented sensitivity, selectivity, and speed. Central to this progress are the unique physical properties of nanomaterials—including size-dependent optical, electrical, mechanical, and surface characteristics—which enable innovative mechanisms of signal generation and transduction. Metallic nanoparticles with localized surface plasmon resonance, semiconductor nanocrystals with quantum confinement effects, and 2D materials with high carrier mobility have all been exploited to push detection limits down to the single-molecule level. In addition, tunable surface area, porosity, and flexibility allow the seamless integration of nanomaterials into miniaturized and wearable devices, paving the way for personalized and point-of-care diagnostics.
This presentation will demonstrate how tailoring the physical properties of nanomaterials can be strategically leveraged to develop next-generation diagnostic platforms, with emphasis on optical, electrochemical, and hybrid biosensing strategies. Particular attention will be given to their roles as labels in biosensing formats and as modifiers in label-free transduction platforms for detecting cancer biomarkers, neurodegenerative diseases, and pathogens—including viruses.
Finally, future perspectives will be discussed, including challenges of reproducibility, large-scale manufacturing, and regulatory approval, as well as opportunities for integration with artificial intelligence and digital health technologies. Importantly, the intrinsic compatibility of nanomaterials with sustainable architectures—such as nitrocellulose membranes, biodegradable plastics, and low-cost, scalable fabrication methods like inkjet printing, screen-printing, and stamping—will be highlighted as a pathway toward affordable, eco-friendly, and widely deployable diagnostics.