A graphene nanomesh based charge sensor and method for producing a graphene nanomesh based charge sensor. A graphene nanomesh based charge sensor includes a graphene nanomesh with a patterned array of multiple holes created by generating multiple holes in graphene in a periodic way, wherein: an edge of each of the multiple holes of the graphene nanomesh is passivated; and the passivated edge of each of the multiple holes of the graphene nanomesh is functionalized with a chemical compound that facilitates chemical binding of a receptor of a target molecule to the edge of one or more of the multiple holes, allowing the target molecule to bind to the receptor, causing a charge to be transferred to the graphene nanomesh to produce a graphene nanomesh based charge sensor for the target molecule.