Sensors & Transducers Journal, Vol.76, Issue 2, February 2007, pp.935-936
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ISSN 1726-5479
© 2007 by IFSA
http://www.sensorsportal.com
Biosensors: Future Analytical Tools
Vikas, Anjum and C S Pundir*
Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, Maharashi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124001, India
Tel.: 00 91 09215570591; e-mail: [email protected]
Received: 10 October 2006 / Accepted: 22 February 2007 / Published: 26 February 2007
Abstract:
Biosensors offer
considerable promises for attaining the analytic information
in a faster,
simpler and cheaper manner compared to conventional assays. Biosensing approach is rapidly
advancing and applications ranging from metabolite, biological/ chemical warfare agent, food
pathogens and adulterant detection to genetic screening and programmed drug delivery have been
demonstrated.
Innovative efforts,
coupling micromachining and nanofabrication
may lead to even more
powerful devices that would accelerate
the realization of large-scale and routine screening. With
gradual increase in commercialization a wide range
of new biosensors are thus expected to reach
the
market in the coming years.
Keywords:
Electrode, transducers, genetic screening, food analysis, bioterrorism, environment
monitoring
1. Introduction
Modern economy is technology driven, promising revenues that are mind-boggling. Biosensor is one
such product of biotechnology that is becoming increasingly popular in fields like environmental
monitoring [1-2], bioterrorism [2-3], food analyses [4]
and most importantly in the area of health care
and diagnostics [5]. This rapidly expanding field has an annual growth rate of 60 %, with major
impetus from the health-care industry (30% of the world’s total analytical market) supported with
other analytical areas of food & environmental monitoring including defense needs [6]. There is
clearly a vast market exponential potential as less than .1% of this market is currently using biosensors.
Research & Development in this field is wide and at the forefront of multidisciplinary science that
involves the collaboration of physics, chemistry, biology, nanotechnology, electronics and software
engineering. The concept of biosensors is just four decades old and the feasibility of biosensing was
first demonstrated by an American scientist Leland C. Clark in 1962. He described how to make
electrochemical sensors more intelligent by adding "enzyme transducers as membrane enclosed
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