Sensors & Transducers Journal, Vol.76, Issue 2, February 2007, pp.935-936
Biological and chemical warfare agents have broad threat spectrum, ranging from relatively simple
chemical agents to complex bioengineered microorganisms. Traditional chemical agents (nerve,
vesicant, and blood agents) have acute toxicities in the range of 10
–3
g/person and are relatively easy to
detect. Emerging chemical agents (toxic chemicals and aerosols) and bioregulators (neuropeptides and
psychoactive compounds) are more varied in their chemical structure, requiring more sophisticated
analytical methods for identification and detection. The most difficult chemical agents to detect are the
cytotoxins and neurotoxins with chronic toxicities as low as 10
–10
g/person. To identify and detect this
complex array of chemicals, the ideal instrument would respond within min, cover the 15 to 200,000
dalton threat beside field portability. Despite the public’s anticipation that biosensors with real-time
detection will be able to monitor biological and chemical weapons, the technology hasn’t caught up
with expectations. Presently, biosensors in environmental monitoring stations, worldwide can detect
compounds like anthrax – but detection can take 12 to 24 hours. Sandia National Laboratories, USA is
developing the µChemLab, a system that detects biotoxins in 5 minutes [2]. Currently they are trying
to upgrade the µChemLab to integrate both gas-based and liquid-based analysis into one handheld
device. This type of biosensor could be incorporated into military uniforms and eventually into high
security buildings.
6. Future Prospects and Popularization of Biosensors
Simplicity, quick results and economic advantages are enabling new procedures in hospitals while
increasing the possibilities for self-care. For the biosensor to be of optimal use, it must be at least as
precise and standardized as other available technology. Personnel with minimum training should be
able to use these devices. Collecting and analyzing specimen at the bedside or in the clinic will
enhance the superior turnaround time of biosensors. Reducing blood specimen volumes to micro (µ)
level may permit continuous on-line monitoring of critical blood chemistries and has the advantage of
creating less blood to clean up hence reducing the potential for infectious contamination from patient
blood. It is anticipated that the health care worker at the bedside of a hospital patient µl aliquot of
whole blood directly into the chip, and insert the chip into a portable biosensor instrument. In addition,
a single chip insert may measure multiple parameters. This multi-specialty in itself will save
considerable time and effort over the specimen processing that constitutes a substantial part of today’s
laboratory workload. In addition, mass-produced disposable biosensors will make medical diagnosis
cheaper. The world total analytical market is approx
₤
12000, 000, 000/ year and less than .1% of this
market is currently using biosensors. Despite huge market potential & except for few commercial
successes, many of the prototypes of biosensors in our laboratories are not commercially viable. The
gap between research and the market place still remains wide and commercialization of biosensor
technology has continued to lag behind the research by several years. Some of the many reasons
includes: cost considerations, stability and sensitivity issues, quality assurance and competitive
technologies. Until all these issues are addressed it would be difficult to move these devices from the
research lab to market place. Biosensors undisputedly have got tremendous applications in healthcare,
but the level of sophistication, reliability, awareness, cost, availability and marketing of these devices
are important for deciding whether biosensors will be popular in the near future.
7. Conclusion
Biosensors are analytical devices which can transform biological recognition into a measurable signal.
Our fascination with biosensor world is due to its exponential potential in analytical market. This
multidisciplinary field offers potential applications in clinical diagnostics, defense, food and beverage
industry, pollution control. In addition to sensitivity, simplicity and fast processing power, micro
fabrication technology enhances biosensors with desired specifications. There is a great need to bring
synergy among R&D institutions and Government, Industrial houses that leads to smooth transmission
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