Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and climate change have intensified the need for reliable, sensitive, and real-time environmental monitoring technologies. The detection of air and water pollutants at trace levels remains a major scientific and technological challenge. In this context, microporous and mesoporous materials have emerged as highly promising platforms for environmental sensing due to their exceptionally high surface areas, tunable pore structures, and versatile surface chemistries. Materials such as zeolites, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), mesoporous silicas, metal oxides, and porous carbons enable selective adsorption and efficient interaction with target analytes, leading to enhanced sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and response speed. Recent advances in material synthesis, functionalization, and device integration have significantly expanded their applicability in environmental sensing. This special issue aims to capture these recent developments and provide a comprehensive overview of current trends, challenges, and future directions in the field. The proposed special issue will focus on the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of microporous and mesoporous materials for environmental and sensing. It aims to bring together interdisciplinary research spanning materials science, chemistry, nanotechnology, and environmental engineering. The objective is to highlight innovative sensing strategies, emerging material platforms, and practical sensor implementations that address critical environmental monitoring needs. Potential topics included but not limited: • Zeolites, MOFs, COFs, porous polymers, mesoporous oxides, and carbon-based porous materials • Hierarchical and hybrid microporous–mesoporous structures • Surface modification, doping, and defect engineering for sensing enhancement • Water quality sensors for heavy metals, organic pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and emerging contaminants • Biosensing for environmental pathogens and toxins

This topical collection (TC) aims to collect recent advances in analytical methods and sensor technologies towards infectious disease diagnostics, highlighting innovative development of micro- and nanochemical systems, advanced (bio)sensors, electrochemical and optical techniques, and AI-enhanced platforms that enable sensitive, multiplexed, and real-time pathogen detection. Special emphasis will be placed on studies that address the differentiation between vaccinated and non-vaccinated immune responses or among disease strains, given the increasing resurgence of infections in the post-vaccination era and the growing relevance of trade policies prioritizing products from unvaccinated animal sources. This will help public health professionals working at the interface of analytical innovation and infectious disease control.

The issue aims to bridge the gap between analytical chemistry and global health by presenting innovations in:

-Microfluidic and lab-on-chip platforms for field-deployable diagnostics

-Nanomaterial-enabled biosensors with high sensitivity and specificity

-AC electrokinetic (ACEK) and dielectrophoretic enhancement for pathogen capture

-Low-cost, paper-based, and wearable diagnostics for at-home and low-resource use

This special issue will serve as a cornerstone reference for public health professionals working at the interface of analytical innovation and infectious disease control. It will also catalyze interdisciplinary collaborations toward smarter, faster, and more accessible diagnostic systems for future pandemic preparedness.