Nano-carbon based sensors for bacterial detection and discrimination in clinical diagnosis: A junction between material science and biology

Despite the advancement in treatment processes, pathogenic bacterial contamination is very common and is a major threat to human health and safety. The limitations of modern detection technologies towards rapid detection and discrimination of bacterial pathogens and early availability of information of their antimicrobial susceptibility underpin the necessity for the continued development of novel bacterial sensors. Revolutions in nanotechnology have led to exceptional accomplishments in the design of diverse nanomaterials with targeting, therapeutic, and diagnostic functions. In particular, nano-carbons have become important scaffolds for designing biosensors. Here, we present an overview of the current status and advancements of nano-carbons as bio-sensing tools for the detection of bacteria in connection with next generation bionic devices. The main properties of nano-carbons facilitating bacterial detection are explored along with how the integration of their derivatives can lead to next-generation sensing devices. The technical challenges to be overcome regarding real-life clinical applications are underscored, highlighting the beneficial interactions between nano-carbons and bacterial cells, which leads to novel routes in clinical diagnosis. Nano-carbon based sensing tools can provide fast, efficient, sensitive, specific and real-time detection of bacterial cells and thus could replace many complex current techniques. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.