Biosensors

Biosensors are devices which combine a biological

component to detect an analyte and a physicochemical
component to produce a signal which is measurable.

An early example of biosensor was introduced in 1962 to

monitor blood gas levels during surgery (Clark and Lyons,
1962).
Types and Principle
• Various types of biosensors being used are enzyme-based, tissue-
based, immunosensors, DNA biosensors, and thermal and
piezoelectric biosensors.

• The analyte may be transformed to a product that involves the

release of heat, gas (oxygen), electrons, or hydrogen ions in some
cases.
• The most common enzyme-based biosensors are glucose and urea
biosensors

• The important components of a biosensor are

• (1) a bioreceptor (e.g., enzymes, antibody, microorganism, or cells);
(2) a transducer of the physicochemical signal, and (3) a signal
processor to interpret the information that has been converted.
• Biosensors can be classified according the transduction methods they
utilize
• Most forms of transduction can be categorized in one of five main
classes: electrochemical, electrical, optical, piezoelectric (mass
detection methods) and thermal detection.
• Biosensors can be used in disease detection, monitoring, and other
biomedical instruments.
• A substance of interest that needs detection. For instance, glucose is
an 'analyte' in a biosensor designed to detect glucose.