Nanosensors for biochemical analysis of single cells

In the past couple of decades new techniques in chemical and biological sensing have provided information and technology that have greatly enhanced the field of biological research. In this area of sensing, one of the most recent technological advances has been in the area of nanometer-sized sensors, called nanosensors. These nanosensors have been reported in the literature over the past decade, and have been based upon many different types of measurements (i.e. optical, electrochemical, etc.). This article reviews the field of nanosensors, with particular emphasis on optical-based sensors and their application to the measurement of chemical species inside individual cells.