CHAPTER 11: Quantum Dots-based Disposable Sensors

Increase in life expectancy and high living societal prospects demand a system that could provide real-time health monitoring to reduce hospitalization through early detection and diagnosis of various abnormalities that could lead to life-threatening circumstances. In this context, point-of-care diagnostic systems based on electrochemical sensors have drawn utmost preference owing to their distinct features such as excellent selectivity, stability, portability (miniaturization) and disposability. Researchers have invested enormous effort towards evolution of new and innovative materials in order to develop simple and smart electrochemical sensors. Among the diverse nanomaterials that were studied, quantum dots setup by virtue of their increased surface area, biocompatibility and electron transportability. Furthermore, these QDs demonstrate excellent photostability, negligible photobleaching in addition to their high quantum yields. Accordingly, QDs based sensing devices are found to be appealing in environmental screening, drug delivery, medical diagnosis, and other industrial applications. In this chapter, quantum dots-based disposable electrochemical sensors/biosensors towards sensitive and selective determination of biologically essential analytes that aids in the advancement of healthcare monitoring are discussed in detail.