from Theron et al. in Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications

Advances in nanotechnology and nanosciences are having a significant impact on the field of diagnostics, where a number of nanoparticle-based assays have been introduced for biomolecular detection. The promise of increasing sensitivity and speed, and reduced cost and labour makes nanodiagnostics an appealing alternative to current molecular diagnostic techniques. New synthesis, fabrication and characterization methods for nanomaterials, which have dimensions that range from 1 to 100 nm, have evolved to a point that deliberate modulation of their size, shape and composition is possible, thereby allowing control of their properties. Along with these advances has come the ability to tailor their binding affinities for various biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids and microbial pathogens) through surface modification and engineering. Each of these capabilities allows the design of materials that can potentially be implemented into new biodiagnostic assays that can compete favourably with the current molecular diagnostic methodologies. In this section, the most promising nanomaterials and their use in the detection of nucleic acids and microbial pathogens will be highlighted.

Tags: Microbial Detection | Pathogen Detection | Biodiagnostics | Biodetection Assays | Biomolecular Detection