CHAPTER 6: Metal Nanoparticles-based Disposable Sensors

Nanomaterials have attracted extensive attention in scientific research with their unique chemical and physical properties. Noble metal nanomaterials have important roles in the future development of science and technology especially in the areas of energy storage, nano-enhanced catalysis, sensors and photoelectric information storage. Noble metal elements (Au, Ag, Pt and Pd) based nanostructured materials have led to significant research developments in chemical and biological sensing due to their good stability and low biotoxicity. Disposable sensors are easily accessible sensing devices mainly used for instant and rapid biomarker analysis. Such disposable sensors are exploited for numerous applications, ranging from environmental, pharmaceutical, forensic, food sciences, agricultural, clinical diagnostics and to flexible and wearable devices. This chapter discusses the evolution and spectrum of disposable electrochemical sensors and its future perspectives in terms of growing need for rapid and cost-effective diagnostic devices, as well as screening and monitoring tools in health care sectors. The effect of metal nanoparticles towards the sensing performances of disposable sensors fabricated through various technologies is discussed. Finally, the chapter focuses the applications of viable disposable sensing platforms for clinical analysis, personalized diagnosis and wearable sensing applications.