title: The role of nanotechnology in single-cell detection: a review.
abstract: Biological processes in single cells, such as signal transduction, DNA duplication, and protein synthesis and trafficking, occur in subcellular compartments at nanoscale level. Achieving high spatial-temporal resolution, high sensitivity, and high specificity in single-cell detection poses a great challenge. Nanotechnology, which has been widely applied in the fields of medicine, electronics, biomaterials, and energy production, has the potential to provide solutions for single-cell detection. Here we present a review of the use of nanotechnology in single-cell detection over the past two decades. First, we review the main areas of scientific interest, including morphology, ion concentration, DNA, RNA, protein, intracellular temperature, elements, and mechanical properties. Second, four categories of application of nanotechnology to single-cell detection are described: nanomanipulation, nanodevices, nanomaterials as labels, and nano Secondary ion mass spectrometry. Finally, the prospects and future trends in single-cell detection and analysis are discussed.
authors.forename: Changling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mingdian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xingxi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shitao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Huaqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Tiebing
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D049329:Nanostructures; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*