Effective detection of bacteria using metal nanoclusters

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections cause more than 700 000 deaths each year worldwide. Detection of bacteria is critical in limiting infection-based damage. Nanomaterials provide promising sensing platforms owing to their ability to access new interaction modalities. Nanoclusters feature sizes smaller than traditional nanomaterials, providing a great sensitive ability for detecting analytes. The distinct optical and catalytic properties of nanoclusters combined with their biocompatibility enable them as efficient biosensors. In this review, we summarize multiple strategies that utilize nanoclusters for the detection of pathogenic bacteria.