Quantum Biosensing in Infectious Disease Diagnostics

Abstract

The emergence of infectious diseases continues to pose a serious global health threat, driving the need for highly sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic methods. Quantum biosensing offers a groundbreaking approach by exploiting the unique quantum properties of nanomaterials to achieve superior sensitivity and accuracy. This chapter focuses on key quantum biosensing platforms, particularly graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, which have shown strong potential in detecting viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Compared to conventional diagnostics like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), quantum biosensors provide faster, more cost-effective, and miniaturized solutions capable of detecting pathogens at ultralow concentrations. Their ability to perform real-time, label-free, and multiplexed detection makes them highly suitable for point-of-care applications. The chapter also explores future directions, including AI-enhanced quantum diagnostics, portable sensors, and integration with microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip systems. As the field advances, quantum biosensing is expected to revolutionize infectious disease diagnostics, contributing to precision medicine and global health preparedness.