Application of the Nanopore in Life-Support Clinical Devices —— ECMO's Promotion

Abstract

Nanopore technology has emerged as a transformative tool in modern biomedical science, enabling direct, label-free, and highly sensitive analysis of biomolecules at the single-molecule level. This technology has been widely applied in genomics, proteomics, biosensing, and environmental monitoring, with its rapid advancement indicating broad prospects for medical and clinical applications. In particular, its integration into medical devices could significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy, monitoring capabilities, and treatment personalization. This review explores the potential application of nanopore technology within extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a critical life-support system for patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure. The study begins by outlining the basic principles and core functions of nanopores, followed by an overview of their potential roles in medical instrumentation, including biosensors, diagnostic platforms, and blood filtration devices. The primary focus is placed on ECMO integration, where nanopores could offer unique advantages in real-time monitoring of blood oxygenation, pathogen detection, and molecular-level biomarker quantification. By analyzing both qualitative and quantitative detection capacities, we demonstrate the feasibility and transformative value of nanopore-based ECMO monitoring systems. Over all, the paper ends with a discussion about future directions, including engineering challenges, clinical validation, and opportunities for personalized medicine. This article emphasizes that nanopore technology, once optimized for stability, scalability, and hemocompatibility, could evolve into a cornerstone of precision monitoring in ECMO and other critical-care technologies.