Water is essential for life, yet ensuring an adequate supply and quality of drinking water represents one of the major environmental and public health challenges. Nanotechnology offers valuable tools for water-quality monitoring by enabling the development of nanosensors that incorporate at least one functional or sensing component containing a nanomaterial or nanostructure, typically with at least one dimension in the range of approximately 1–100 nm. Such sensors can be used for the detection of heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, microorganisms and other contaminants in aquatic environment. Among the most used nanomaterials in sensing applications are quantum dots, carbon-based nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles and other ceramic nanomaterials, polymeric nanoparticles and nanocomposites. Nanosensors exploit the high specific surface area and the optical, electronic, electrochemical, and catalytic properties of these materials. Their large available surface enables functionalization with enzymes, antibodies, aptamers, and other recognition molecules, which can increase the density of binding sites, enhance signal amplification, and improve sensor sensitivity and detection limits. The small dimensions and tunable physicochemical properties of nanomaterials enable the development of portable, rapid-response, and, in some cases, multiplexed sensing systems for a wide range of analytes. An example of the application of nanomaterials in a biosensor is also presented, along with the limitations and future possibilities of using nanosensor systems in water quality monitoring, since their broader practical use still requires further validation.
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