BiosensorsBiosensors

Anthony CarrAnthony Carr

Brett GobeBrett Gobe

Ben LaPierreBen LaPierre

What are biosensors?What are biosensors? Detectors based on selective molecular Detectors based on selective molecular

components of plants or animals.components of plants or animals. Modern Biosensors evolved from 2 Modern Biosensors evolved from 2

different disciplinesdifferent disciplines Molecular BiologyMolecular Biology Information Technology.Information Technology.

Offers a wide variety of applications.Offers a wide variety of applications. MedicalMedical EnvironmentalEnvironmental Military / Law EnforcementMilitary / Law Enforcement

Evolution of the Medical Evolution of the Medical BiosensorBiosensor Mid 1950’s - Leland C Clark invents an Mid 1950’s - Leland C Clark invents an

electrode that measures dissolved electrode that measures dissolved oxygen in the blood of patients oxygen in the blood of patients undergoing surgery.undergoing surgery.

He surrounded a platinum electrode and He surrounded a platinum electrode and reference electrode with a plastic reference electrode with a plastic membrane permeable to gases. The membrane permeable to gases. The voltage differential measured between voltage differential measured between the two gave the rate at which the the two gave the rate at which the oxygen was being diffused.oxygen was being diffused.

Clark extended this electrode idea to include glucose Clark extended this electrode idea to include glucose sensors.sensors.

However these never made their way into routine However these never made their way into routine patient care. This was due to flaws in accuracy when patient care. This was due to flaws in accuracy when clots formed around the electrode.clots formed around the electrode.

Required Required CharacteristicsCharacteristics

SensitivitySensitivity Low detection Low detection

limitslimits CostCost SimplicitySimplicity ReliabilityReliability Speed Speed Accuracy Accuracy PrecisionPrecision

UtilityUtility Field portabilityField portability RuggednessRuggedness ReproducibilityReproducibility Ease of calibrationEase of calibration StabilityStability Room for Room for

improvementimprovement

BiosensorsBiosensors

Combine a biological compound Combine a biological compound with a transducerwith a transducer

What is a transducer?What is a transducer?

Flow Injection Analysis Flow Injection Analysis (FIA)(FIA)

What is FIA?What is FIA?

Uses of BiosensorsUses of Biosensors

Environmental MonitoringEnvironmental Monitoring Military Military Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement MedicalMedical

Present Applications of Present Applications of BiosensorsBiosensors

Medical Care (both clinical and Medical Care (both clinical and laboratory use)laboratory use)

The determination of food qualityThe determination of food quality The detection of environmental The detection of environmental

pollutantspollutants Industrial Process ControlIndustrial Process Control

Applications (cont’d.)Applications (cont’d.) Biosensors in process control will be able to Biosensors in process control will be able to

measure materials in the process flow of measure materials in the process flow of temperature, pressure and the acidity readings.temperature, pressure and the acidity readings.

The development of biosensors in industry can The development of biosensors in industry can improve manufacturing techniques, which would improve manufacturing techniques, which would allow for a wider range of sensing molecules to allow for a wider range of sensing molecules to be produced at a cheaper rate.be produced at a cheaper rate.

In the field of medicine, tumor cells are used as a In the field of medicine, tumor cells are used as a biosensor to monitor chemotherapeutic drug biosensor to monitor chemotherapeutic drug susceptibilities.susceptibilities.

Biosensors also play a role in the manufacturing Biosensors also play a role in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and replacement organs such of pharmaceuticals and replacement organs such as an artificial pancreas for diabetics.as an artificial pancreas for diabetics.

It is found that biosensors are widely used It is found that biosensors are widely used in environmental testing by using a “flow-in environmental testing by using a “flow-through” system to monitor wastewater (a through” system to monitor wastewater (a flow-through system includes instruments flow-through system includes instruments using surface plasmon resonance).using surface plasmon resonance).

These censors are not only restricted to These censors are not only restricted to the use of molecules. Rather living the use of molecules. Rather living microorganisms such as bacteria can be microorganisms such as bacteria can be used to detect substances such as vitamin used to detect substances such as vitamin B12.B12.

Conclusively, biosensors play a part in the Conclusively, biosensors play a part in the field of medicine, environmental quality, field of medicine, environmental quality, and industry mainly by identifying and industry mainly by identifying material and the degree of concentration material and the degree of concentration present.present.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?