Nanostructured materials possess a variety of properties that
can enhance the speed and sensitivity of biomolecular and
cellular detection. The length scale of many nano materials
enhances their ability to contact individual molecules, and
their surface-to-volume ratios can produce enhanced levels
of signal. The magnetic, electrochemical and optical
properties of nanomaterials are also highly sensitive to small
changes in local environment, which also enhances the
performance of nanostructured detectors. We have
developed a variety of new solutions for biomolecular and
cellular analysis powered by inorganic nanomaterials.
Three-dimensional, nanostructured sensors for
electrochemical analysis of biomolecular targets have been
engineered using electrodeposited metals and shown to
exhibit clinically-relevant levels of sensitivity and
speciöcity. As well, ananoparticle-mediated approach to
the analysis and phenotypic proöling of circulating tumor
cells allows these rare cells to be analyzed in patient samples
for cancer monitoring. These new tools enhance the level
of information that can be collected from clinical
specimens,and provide new possibilities for molecular analysis in
medicine.