Progressions in chemical and biological analytes sensing technology based on nanostructured materials: A comprehensive review

Abstract In general, nanoscience technology can be best described as a medium of design, fabrication, and application of nanostructured materials, as well as a fundamental understanding of physicochemical properties and phenomena of nanomaterials and nanostructures. Owing to the fact they offer a plethora of perspectives for modern living and fascinating technological advancements, sensors that are based on different types of nanostructured materials have uplifted the technology to greater heights of late. Nanostructure-based sensors can detect biologically as well as environmentally pertinent target species with high exactitude. The recognition of the targeted species, which usually befalls through a controlled binding affair, is then communicated as a readable signal. In addition, the surface-functionalized nanostructured materials, comprising both inorganic and organic components, have recently been inspected as potential platforms for sensing applications and have huge advantages over other materials. In this extensive tutorial review, we have focused on the current development of functionalized and non-functionalized nanostructured materials that can be used in environmental and biological applications, in which these chromofluorogenic chemosensors can selectively and sensitively detect specific analytes of interest through different principles and mechanisms. Additionally, few pieces of literature on the fabrication of nanostructured materials-based sensor devices are also listed out.