Nanomaterial‐Based Optical Sensors for Pathogen Detection

Abstract

Nanomaterials are materials or substances that range from 1 to 100 nm in diameter. They have useful qualities that allow them to be deployed for various applications. A sensor is a device that measures the physical quantity of an object and converts it into a signal that can be interpreted by an individual or equipment. There are many types of sensors based on their detection mechanism and detection target: acoustic, optical, thermal, mechanical, chemical, electromagnetic, and radiation sensors. Indeed, nanomaterial-based optical sensors have been developed and applied in agriculture, food preparation, drug delivery, and medical diagnosis, among others. This applicability and versatility are mainly attributed to the straightforward principle and relatively easy hardware configuration. As such, this chapter is intended to assess and discuss some of the advantages of deploying nanomaterial-based optical sensors for rapid and accurate detection of microbial pathogens.