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reportDiagnostics
7.3.2 Definition & Short Description

Diagnostics & Sensors

Keywords: sensor, magnetic nanoparticle, nanowire, nanoshell, carbon nanotube, cantilever, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering, lab-on-a-chip, theranostics, dendrimer, microscopy

Definition

For the purpose of this report, diagnostics applies to nanomaterials and tools for measuring nanoscale phenomena both in vivo and in vitro.

Short Description

Advances in nanotechnology have significantly improved the ability to detect and diagnose disease.  The technology has facilitated the development of small, highly sensitive, inexpensive devices for the manipulation and analysis of cells.  Improvements in existing techniques due to novel nanomaterials and surface modification methods have enabled us to see and analyse intracellular operations in real time.  They are also being used to develop parallel assays which can detect various analytes simultaneously.  More detailed and in-depth analysis of cellular functions is helping scientists and researchers to detect diseases at a very early stage and find suitable cures.  Quantum dots for imaging is one of the most advanced applications of nanotechnology.  They also have applications in many areas including biomarking, genomic sensing, multiplexed arrays, nanobarcodes, immunoassays and live cell imaging.  Carbon nanotube-based glucose sensors which change infrared fluorescence according to the glucose level have been proposed.  Gold nanoparticles have been used for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping and nanowire field-effect transistors (FETs) are used for the real time electrical detection of single virus particles.

This report reviews some of the important developments in in vitro and in vivo diagnostics and how nanotechnology enables scientists to understand the cellular functions in a better fashion.

 

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Visits: 47, Published on: November, 21st 2008, 11:15 AM, Last edit: May, 1st 2009, 11:01 AM Size: 2 KByte

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