Biosensor

Biosensors are analytical tools meant to analyze bio-material samples for understanding their bio-composition, structure and function by converting a biological response into an electrical signal. A biosensor is known by various names such as immunosensors, optrodes, chemical canaries, resonant mirrors, glucometers, biochips, biocomputers etc. A biosensor has three parts-

• The sensitive biological element or the biological material like tissue, microorganisms, organelles, cell receptors, enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids, etc.
• The transducer or the detector element which functions in a physicochemical manner like the optical, piezoelectric, electrochemical, etc. It transforms the signal resulting from the interaction of the analyte with the biological element into another signal (i.e., transducers) which can be easily measured and quantified.
• Associated electronics or signal processors that display the results.

Types of Biosensors

The various types of biosensors can be categorized on the basis of analytes, and the mode of detection.

Types of Biosensors on the Basis of Analytes

An analyte is a substance or chemical constituent which is determined in an analytical procedure. For example, in a blood glucose testing, the analyte is glucose while glucometer is the biosensor.

• Enzyme Electrode - This type of biosensor recognizes the biological elements called enzymes and proteins.
• Immunosensor - This biosensor recognizes the antibodies.
• DNA Sensor - DNA biosensor is one of the basic biotechnology lab equipment that recognizes DNA and other organelles.
• Microbial sensor - It recognizes microbial cells, plant and animal tissues.

Types of Biosensors on the Basis of Detection Mode

These biosensors are categorized on the basis of the types of transducers and the measured property.

• Electrochemical Biosensor- The measured property includes potentiometric, amperometric and voltametric.
• Electrical Biosensor- Measured properties are surface conductivity and electrolyte conductivity.
• Optical Biosensor- Fluorescence, adsorption and reflection are the measured property.
• Mass Sensitive Biosensor- The measured property is rezonans frequency of piezocrytals.
• Thermal Biosensor- The measured property is heat of reaction and adsorption.

Send online enquiry for all types of biosensors- resonance, ion sensitive, electrochemical, amperometric, potentiometric, optical, thermal biosensors, glucose biosensors, DNA detection sensors, holographic biosensors and all other types of biosensors. You will receive immediate response from pre verified and reliable biosensor suppliers and manufacturers just by filling up this simple enquiry form.

Sensing Methods of Biosensors

There are a number of biosensor tools available with the biosensor suppliers and manufacturers in the market. They all work on some or the other sensing technique to achieve the result of analysis. Some of the basic sensing techniques of biosensors include the following:

• Fluorescence
• DNA Microarray
• SPR Surface Plasmon Resonance
• Impedance Spectroscopy
• SPM (Scanning Probe Microscopy)
• QCM (Quartz Crystal Microbalance)
• SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy)
• Electrochemical

Biosensor Applications

Biosensors tools have a wide range of applications in many fields. They selectively identify toxic chemical compounds at ultratrace levels in industrial products; chemical substances; environmental components like air, soil, and water; or biological systems like bacteria, virus, or tissue components for biomedical diagnosis. Some of the applications of biosensors include the following.

• Study of biomolecules and interaction among them.
• Development of pharmaceutical drugs.
• Medical diagnosis at home such as use of glucometer (glucose biosensor) for measuring blood sugar.
• Environmental field monitoring such as for detecting environmental pollutants.
• Scientific crime detection as used in forensic analysis.
• Food analysis with the purpose of quality control, detecting pathogens and food toxins.

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