Nanotechnology-enabled chemical sensors and biosensors

Chemical sensors and biosensors that are sensitive, robust, cost effective, mobile, and compact are a necessity. Prime applications are those in which portability and low cost are paramount, such as clinical monitoring, point-of-care medicine, crime scene forensics, environmental control, and bioterrorism prevention. The total available market for these applications is over $15 billion and is currently growing at more than 25% annually. Small sensors that employ miniaturized detection methods, such as the field asymmetric ion mass spectrometry (FAIMS) sensor (Owlstone, New York, NY), have applications in chemical and biological warfare detection and can be handheld or wall- or pole-mounted.