Prospects and Challenges for Graphene Drums As Sensors Of Individual Bacteria

Graphene-drum-enabled nanomotion detection can play an important role in probing life at the nanoscale. By combining micro- and nanomechanical systems with optics, nanomotion sensors bridge the gap between mechanics and cellular biophysics. They have allowed investigation of processes involved in metabolism, growth, and structural organisation of a large variety of microorganisms, ranging from yeasts to bacterial cells. Using graphene drums, these processes can now be resolved at the single-cell level. In this perspective, we discuss the key achievements of nanomotion spectroscopy, and peek forward into the prospects for application of this single-cell technology in clinical settings. Furthermore, we discuss the steps required for implementation and look into applications beyond microbial sensing.