Chemical sensors detect subtle changes in the chemical environment by transforming relevant chemical or physical properties of molecular or ionic targets into analytically useful outputs. Array-based sensors are particularly appealing for chemical detection due to their multiplexing ability and robustness for complicated sample matrices. For example, a traditional electronic nose is an array-based sensor technology that uses a number of sensors to interact with targets, typically through physical adsorption, and to generate an electrical response. The rapid development of novel sensing techniques for biomedical, agricultural biotechnology, and environmental applications has resulted in many novel array sensors based on not only electrical but optical responses. Common optical sensor arrays rely on colorimetric or fluorescent changes originating from intermolecular interactions between the chromophore or fluorophore and the analytes. By combining array-based techniques that employ a chemically diverse set of sensor elements with advanced signal transduction methods, one can produce a composite pattern of response as a unique “fingerprint” for any given target by comparison to a predetermined library of responses.
The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight recent accomplishments in the synthesis and fabrication of a wide range of inorganic or organic materials as arrays of chemical sensors or biosensors for healthcare diagnosis, food/plant inspection, and environmental monitoring. Manuscripts discussing sensors based on electrical and optical responses are of particular interest. Specific themes may include:
• Novel methods for patterning and assembly of functional materials into sensor arrays
• Array-based chemical sensing of biologically important small molecules, biomarkers, and pathogens
• Characterization approaches of sensor performance such as response time, sensitivity, and selectivity toward specific individual compounds or mixtures
• Multivariant data processing algorithms such as principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and machine learning methods
• Sensing mechanisms and practical uses of array-based probes in real-world applications
Chemical sensors detect subtle changes in the chemical environment by transforming relevant chemical or physical properties of molecular or ionic targets into analytically useful outputs. Array-based sensors are particularly appealing for chemical detection due to their multiplexing ability and robustness for complicated sample matrices. For example, a traditional electronic nose is an array-based sensor technology that uses a number of sensors to interact with targets, typically through physical adsorption, and to generate an electrical response. The rapid development of novel sensing techniques for biomedical, agricultural biotechnology, and environmental applications has resulted in many novel array sensors based on not only electrical but optical responses. Common optical sensor arrays rely on colorimetric or fluorescent changes originating from intermolecular interactions between the chromophore or fluorophore and the analytes. By combining array-based techniques that employ a chemically diverse set of sensor elements with advanced signal transduction methods, one can produce a composite pattern of response as a unique “fingerprint” for any given target by comparison to a predetermined library of responses.
The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight recent accomplishments in the synthesis and fabrication of a wide range of inorganic or organic materials as arrays of chemical sensors or biosensors for healthcare diagnosis, food/plant inspection, and environmental monitoring. Manuscripts discussing sensors based on electrical and optical responses are of particular interest. Specific themes may include:
• Novel methods for patterning and assembly of functional materials into sensor arrays
• Array-based chemical sensing of biologically important small molecules, biomarkers, and pathogens
• Characterization approaches of sensor performance such as response time, sensitivity, and selectivity toward specific individual compounds or mixtures
• Multivariant data processing algorithms such as principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and machine learning methods
• Sensing mechanisms and practical uses of array-based probes in real-world applications