Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
18
Micro- and Nanomaterials Based Detection
Systems Applied in Lab-on-a-Chip
Technology
Mariana Medina-Sánchez
1
and Arben Merkoçi
1,2
1
Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group, Institut Català de Nanotecnologia:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
2
Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group, Institut Català de Nanotechnologia & ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
18.1 Micro- and nanotechnology in Green Analytical Chemistry
Green Analytical Chemistry is an approach to the synthesis, processing and use of chemicals that reduce risks
to humans and environment [1]. These approaches include new processes as well as new tools to minimize
the effect of the pollution agents in the human health and nature. One of the main trends to achieve this goal
during the design and fabrication of (bio)analytical systems is the introduction of miniaturized methods that
can be disposable, cheap, with reusable materials, and that allow a reducing of the use of reagents and
materials. That is the case of the lab-on-a-chip (LOC) or microfluidic platforms, where their features are in
concordance with the green chemistry philosophy, therefore, the use of this technology allows preventing
waste generation, by facilitating the safe use of solvents and other materials, and the optimal use of energy,
making chemistry in general, and particularly bioanalytical processes, more sustainable.
Simple and miniaturized micro/nanofluidic platforms are especially interesting due to their advantages,
like the use of reduced sample volume, low cost, portability and the possibility of being integrated into
conventional analytical techniques. They represent promising alternative tools for point-of-care diagnostics
and drug delivery between other applications.
The objective of this chapter is to present the latest trends in the use of nanomaterials (i.e. nanoparticles,
quantum dots, nanotubes etc.) in combination with miniaturization and lab-on-a-chip technologies for several
