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The volume is notable for a new approach to the biosensors preparation, a wide variety of materials (e.g. reticulated vitreous carbon, electropolymerized films, covalently bound redox mediators), new biocatalytical and DNA-based membranes, new techniques (e.g. mi- crofabrication, integrated optical couplers) and meth- ods, such as fluorescence as well ,as surface plasmon resonance and application.

This book is valuable to those interested in the latest developments in an extensive range of different aspects of biosensors covering both fundamental work and practical application. It can be recommended to students, postgraduates and professionals working in the area of biotechnology, bioelectronics and analytical sciences.

The contents are as follows: Introduction (Anthony P.F. Turner); Chemically Constructed Amperometric Biosensors (Alexander M. Yacynych); New Develop- ments in Bioelectrochemistry (Kati Di Gleria, H. Allen, 0. Hill>; Amperometric Biosensors For Substrates of Oxidases and Dehydrogenases (Wolfgang Schuhmann, Hanns-Ludwig Schmidt); A Microfabricated Glucose Sensor: Fabrication, Characterization, In Vitro and In vioo Performances, and Related Problems (M. Koudelka-Hep, F. Rohner-Jeanrenaud, E. Bobbioni- Harsch, J. Terrettaz, N.F. de Rooij, B. Jeanrenaud); Amperometric and Optical Biosensors (P.R. Coulet); Formation of Sensor Surfaces with Covalently-Bound Recognitive Elements and their Application to Acous- tic Wave, Optical and Electrochemical Devices (Lan Bui, Reno DeBono, Vida Ghaemmaghami, Krishna M.R. Kallury, Paul Li, Neil McKeown, David Stone, Hongbo Su, Liiic Tessier, Stephen Vigmond, Michael Thompson); Fluorescence Based Chemical Sensors (Dietrich W. Liibers); Integrated Optical Couplers as Chemical Waveguide Sensors (K. Tiefenthaler); Real Time Biospecific Integration Analysis: The Integration of Surface Plasmon Resonance Detection, General Biospecific Interface Chemistry and Microfluidics into one Analytical System (Ulf Jonsson, Magnus Malmqvist); Index.

Physical Biochemistry Theodor Ackermann, Springer Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York-London-Paris- Tokyo-Hong Kong, 1992, ISBN 3-540-54055-5, XII + 556 pp. DM 98,00, in German.

This book came into being when it was realised that it was impossible to write a new edition of the famous “Theoretische Biochemie” (Hans Netter, 1959), which many scientists had consulted and admired over the years.

Ackerman’s book can be compared with Netter’s version: - if a single author has the courage to write a text-

book in this interdisciplinary and fast developing field it has the advantage that the thread of the story is not lost,

- the book does not reduce the knowledge to single examination questions but makes the context trans- parent and well documented with numerous figures and data.

Unavoidable mathematical formulas are well ex- plained.

The chapters indicate the contents: 1. Particles and forces in molecular dimensions and

their significance for the structure of biologically important molecules.

2. Phenomena of transport and arrangement and par- tition equilibria.

3. Self organisation of molecular aggregates. 4. Biopolymers. 5. Biochemical energetics.

The book is a synopsis of topics which are part of traditional lectures in biochemistry, biophysics, molecu- lar biology and physiology. But this integrating presen- tation leads to a much deeper understanding of designs and functions of molecular and supermolecular struc- tures.

JUOZAS KULYS Vilnius

E. MUELLER Jena