Nanomaterials Webinar | Nanomaterials for the Development of Chemical and Biological Sensors for Small Organic Molecules
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Nanomaterials Webinar
Nanomaterials for the Development of Chemical and Biological Sensors for Small Organic Molecules
Small organic molecules are targeted as analytes for electrochemical detection in many categories, including hormones, environmental pollutants, neurotransmitters, pharmaceuticals, and metabolites. For example, hormones play essential roles in the human body by regulating metabolism, responding to stress and external stimuli, determining sex characteristics, regulating development and growth, and serving as signaling molecules. There are numerous compounds of non-natural origin that mimic hormones and are found in the environment as pollutants, and exposure to these can disturb normal hormone functions in the body. Examples include endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A, phthalates, and certain herbicides and pesticides. The category of compounds known as emerging pollutants, molecules generated from human activity and released into natural aqueous environments, has also inspired significant efforts in their electrochemical detection. Neurotransmitters are essential for chemical signaling in the brain, and their electrochemical determination in real time is being actively investigated. In recent decades, we have seen rapid growth in the development of chemical or biological sensors for small organic molecules. The modification of the surfaces of these sensors, using nanomaterials to provide a greater surface area and enhanced electron transfer, has resulted in continuous improvement in the detection of these molecules by electrochemical methods. Efforts are also underway for multi-analyte detection and development of wearable devices. The talks in this webinar will touch on these topics.
Date: 9 April 2026
Time: 4:00 pm CEST | 10:00 am EDT | 10:00 pm CST Asia
Webinar ID: 839 9666 8158
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Noe Alvarez
University of Cincinnati, Chemistry Department;
Dr. Alvarez is an associate professor at the Chemistry department of University of Cincinnati. He received his Ph. D. in Chemistry from Rice University (2010) at the Smalley Research Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, under supervision of Prof James Tour and Robert H. Hauge. He has received a NASA tech award (2011) for his contribution to the development of scientific and technical innovation, and has 82 peer-reviewed publications, 12 proceedings and he has contributed with 11 book chapters to numerous books. He holds 11 patents, and he is a member of American Chemical Society, Materials Research Society and The Electrochemical Society. His research is focused on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes, understanding the physical properties and assembling them into macroscopic materials for electrochemical sensor applications
Dr. Ahyeon Koh
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, SUNY Binghamton University;
Dr. Ahyeon Koh is an Associate Professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at SUNY Binghamton University. Her research focuses on developing biocompatible electrochemical biosensors and sensing systems with both chemical and mechanical compatibility. Her expertise includes soft analytical devices, electrochemical biosensors, flexible and stretchable sensors, and biocompatible materials, primarily for biomedical applications. Dr. Koh's work on nitric oxide-releasing biosensors, 3D platforms for skin- and organ-interfaced sensors, microfluidic sweat sensors, and biomimetic electrochemical sensors has been published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and has resulted in several patents. She was awarded the 2023 NSF CAREER Award. Her research lab has been supported by funding from the NSF, the Nano-Bio Materials Consortium (NBMC), ARPA-H, the university, and industry partners.
The webinar was introduced by the Chair, Professor Stine, who emphasized the wide range of small organic molecules that are significant as analytes and how modification of electrodes with nanomaterials has served to enhance the sensitivity and performance of electrochemical sensors. The first speaker, Professor Ahyeon Koh of SUNY – Binghamton, presented her work to overcome problems pertaining to the interfacing of conventional rigid sensors with human skin, by developing soft and flexible materials that are ultrafibrous and allow for gas transport and heat dissipation, and can therefore be more successful as wearable electrochemical sensors. The second speaker, Professor Alvarez of University of Cincinnati, spoke on his work to improve the interfacing of carbon nanotubes into microelectrode fiber assemblies and enhance their performance by directly bonding nanotube ends to the electrode surface, demonstrating their use in simultaneous detection of the analytes dopamine, serotonin, tryptophan, and ascorbic acid. The webinar concluded with a lively discussion, and questions from attendees were answered, providing a perspective on future challenges and opportunities in this field.
The webinar was hosted via Zoom and required registration to attend. The full recording can be found below. In order to learn about future webinars, you can sign up to our newsletter by clicking “Subscribe” at the top of the page.
Nanomaterials for the Development of Chemical and Biological Sensors for Small Organic Molecules
Edited by Prof. Dr. Keith J. Stine
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026