Nanoscale Materials in Biomedical Applications of Sensors: Insights from a Comprehensive Landscape Analysis

Abstract

Since their inception in the early 1960s, the use of nanoscale materials has progressed in leaps and bounds, and their role in diverse fields ranging from human health to energy is undeniable. Nanosensors are devices having nanoscale dimensions designed to detect, record, and transmit signals to provide valuable data and information. In this review, we utilize the CAS Content Collection, a vast repository of scientific information extracted from journals and patent publications, to identify emerging materials and applications in this field. This involves understanding trends, such as the growth of certain topics over time, as well as establishing relationships between emerging topics. Our analysis indicates that among the various nanomorphologies explored in nanosensors, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and quantum dots tend to lead. In terms of the types of nanosensors, chemical and biological sensors account for nearly 80% of publications. In combination with bibliographic data, we utilized our access to the CAS Registry and identified a host of emerging materials across various substance classes (polymers, small molecules, and elements) associated with nanosensor publications. Finally, our analysis indicates that a major application of nanosensors appears to be biomedical in nature (cancer diagnosis/testing and drug discovery, for example). Our findings are highlighted in a CAS TrendScape map that provides an overview of research interest in various concepts in the field. We also provide a snapshot of commercial interest in the development of nanosensors and briefly discuss nanosensors currently under development. It is our hope that this review provides a comprehensive overview of the field and serves as a valuable guide to researchers/scientists.