harmful effects. Proper toxicity assessment is also required to set criteria for safe
handling, transportation and transformation of NMs. Protocols are also necessary
for safe disposal of disposable nanosensors. Prior to manufacture such
nanosensors or during their application, awareness about safe disposal and use
of such sensors is extremely important for their commercial application.
4. Issues of self-standardization and real sample validation: Self-standardization
and calibration test runs are important steps in determining the reliability of
conventional methods for pollution analysis. However, most of the reported
nanosensors are only calibrated with one or two standard samples, thus, the
dependability of final results of analysis are doubtful. Moreover, during the
analysis applications, there is negligence in determination of interassay precision
of such test kits/chips/sensor electrodes. Hence, for practical application of such
nanosensors, standardization is still a major issue.
Most of the reported nanosensors also show applicability under laboratory
conditions. Hence, more analytical data for the performance of such nanosensors
for real samples under complex test conditions is necessary to validate their capability for practical applications.
5.5
Summary
To summarize, in this chapter we have discussed the advancements in the field of
nanosensor development for detection, monitoring and assessment of environmental
samples. Different types of nanosensors based on the transduction principle (optical,
electrochemical, mechanical, magnetic), types of nanomaterials used (carbon-based,
metal-oxide-based, metal-based, bio-nanomaterials- and polymers-based,
electrospun nanofiber-based, magnetic nanomaterials, quantum dots, and porous
silica), application for analysis of different environmental samples (air, water and
soil), and sensing of some harmful environmental contaminants (pesticides, heavy
metals, pathogens phenolic and nito-aromatic compounds, and poly aromatic
hydrocarbons), have been discussed in detail. Some limitations challenging the
potential use of these nanosensors have also been included. Nanosensors technology
is advancing day by day to overcome the present limitations and for application at a
more practical and wider scale for evaluation of the environmental samples.
References
Abdel-Karim R, Reda Y, Abdel-Fattah A (2020) Review—nanostructured materials-based
nanosensors. J Electrochem Soc 167:037554
Alivisatos AP, Gu WW, Larabell C (2005) Quantum dots as cellular probes. Annu Rev Biomed Eng
7:55–76
Altal YS, Sekhaneh W (2020) Detection of hazardous SO 2 by MWCNTs- based gas sensors a new
application for monitoring in museums. Dig J Nanomater Biostruct 15:41–49
134
U. Chakraborty et al.
handling, transportation and transformation of NMs. Protocols are also necessary
for safe disposal of disposable nanosensors. Prior to manufacture such
nanosensors or during their application, awareness about safe disposal and use
of such sensors is extremely important for their commercial application.
4. Issues of self-standardization and real sample validation: Self-standardization
and calibration test runs are important steps in determining the reliability of
conventional methods for pollution analysis. However, most of the reported
nanosensors are only calibrated with one or two standard samples, thus, the
dependability of final results of analysis are doubtful. Moreover, during the
analysis applications, there is negligence in determination of interassay precision
of such test kits/chips/sensor electrodes. Hence, for practical application of such
nanosensors, standardization is still a major issue.
Most of the reported nanosensors also show applicability under laboratory
conditions. Hence, more analytical data for the performance of such nanosensors
for real samples under complex test conditions is necessary to validate their capability for practical applications.
5.5
Summary
To summarize, in this chapter we have discussed the advancements in the field of
nanosensor development for detection, monitoring and assessment of environmental
samples. Different types of nanosensors based on the transduction principle (optical,
electrochemical, mechanical, magnetic), types of nanomaterials used (carbon-based,
metal-oxide-based, metal-based, bio-nanomaterials- and polymers-based,
electrospun nanofiber-based, magnetic nanomaterials, quantum dots, and porous
silica), application for analysis of different environmental samples (air, water and
soil), and sensing of some harmful environmental contaminants (pesticides, heavy
metals, pathogens phenolic and nito-aromatic compounds, and poly aromatic
hydrocarbons), have been discussed in detail. Some limitations challenging the
potential use of these nanosensors have also been included. Nanosensors technology
is advancing day by day to overcome the present limitations and for application at a
more practical and wider scale for evaluation of the environmental samples.
References
Abdel-Karim R, Reda Y, Abdel-Fattah A (2020) Review—nanostructured materials-based
nanosensors. J Electrochem Soc 167:037554
Alivisatos AP, Gu WW, Larabell C (2005) Quantum dots as cellular probes. Annu Rev Biomed Eng
7:55–76
Altal YS, Sekhaneh W (2020) Detection of hazardous SO 2 by MWCNTs- based gas sensors a new
application for monitoring in museums. Dig J Nanomater Biostruct 15:41–49
134
U. Chakraborty et al.