BIO-SENSORS
PREPARED BY
DURGESH SINGH
EE-2 ND YR
ROLL NO. 21
CONTENTS
Introduction
Basic components of Biosensor
Working of Biosensor
Types of Biosensor
Applications of Biosensor
Conclusion
References
INTRODUCTION
A biosensor is a sensing device comprised of a combination of
a specific biological element and a transducer.
A “specific biological element” recognizes a specific analyte
and the changes in the biomolecule are usually converted into
an electrical signal (which is in turn calibrated to a specific
scale) by a transducer.
It detects, records, and transmits information regarding a
physiological change or process.
BASIC COMPONENTS
Bio-element
Transducer component
BIO-ELEMENT
It is a typically complex chemical system
usually extracted or derived directly
from a biological organism.
Types :
Enzymes - Antibodies
Oxidase - Tissue
Polysaccharide - Nucleic Acid
continue…
BIO-ELEMENT
Function :-
To interact specifically with a target compound i.e. the
compound to be detected.
It must be capable of detecting the presence of a target
compound in the test solution.
The ability of a bio-element to interact specifically with target
compound (specificity) is the basis for biosensor.
TRANSDUCER
Function :
To convert biological response in to an electrical
signal.
Types :
Electrochemical
Optical
Piezoelectric
WORKING OF BIOSENSOR
Figure:- Schematic Diagram of a Biosensor
RESPONSE FROM BIO-ELEMENT
Heat absorbed (or liberated ) during the interaction.
Movement of electrons produced in a redox reaction.
Light absorbed (or liberated ) during the interaction.
Effect due to mass of reactants or products.
TYPES OF BIOSENSOR
Electrochemical biosensor
Optical biosensor
Thermal biosensor
Resonant biosensor
Ion-sensitive biosensor
ELECTROCHEMICAL BIOSENSORS
Principle
Many chemical reactions produce or consume ions or electrons
which in turn cause some change in the electrical properties of
the solution which can be sensed out and used as measuring
parameter.
Classification
(1) Amperometric Biosensors
(2) Conductimetric Biosensors
(3) Potentiometric Biosensors
continue…
AMPEROMETRIC BIOSENSORS
This high sensitivity biosensor can detect electro-active species
present in biological test samples.
Since the biological test samples may not be intrinsically
electro-active, enzymes are needed to catalyze the production of
radio-active species.
In this case, the measured parameter is current.
CONDUCTIMETRIC
BIOSENSORS
The measured parameter is the electrical conductance /
resistance of the solution.
When electrochemical reactions produce ions or electrons,
the overall conductivity or resistivity of the solution
changes. This change is measured and calibrated to a
proper scale(Conductance measurements have relatively
low sensitivity.).
The electric field is generated using a sinusoidal voltage
(AC) which helps in minimizing undesirable effects such
as Faradaic processes, double layer charging and
concentration polarization.
POTENTIOMETRIC
BIOSENSORS
In this type of sensor the measured parameter is oxidation
or reduction potential of an electrochemical reaction.
The working principle relies on the fact that when a ramp
voltage is applied to an electrode in solution, a current
flow occurs because of electrochemical reactions.
The voltage at which these reactions occur indicates a
particular reaction and particular species.
OPTICAL-DETECTION
BIOSENSORS
The output transduced signal that is measured is light for
this type of biosensor.
The biosensor can be made based on optical diffraction. In
optical diffraction based devices, a silicon wafer is coated
with a protein via covalent bonds. The wafer is exposed to
UV light through a photo-mask and the antibodies become
inactive in the exposed regions. When the diced wafer
chips are incubated in an analyte, antigen-antibody
bindings are formed in the active regions, thus creating a
diffraction grating. This grating produces a diffraction
signal when illuminated with a light source such as laser.
The resulting signal can be measured.
THERMAL-DETECTION
BIOSENSORS
This type of biosensor work on the fundamental properties
of biological reactions, namely absorption or production of
heat, which in turn changes the temperature of the medium
in which the reaction takes place.
They are constructed by combining immobilized enzyme
molecules with temperature sensors. When the analyte
comes in contact with the enzyme, the heat reaction of the
enzyme is measured and is calibrated against the analyte
concentration.
The total heat produced or absorbed is proportional to the
molar enthalpy and the total number of molecules in the
reaction.
continue…
THERMAL-DETECTION
BIOSENSORS
The measurement of the temperature is typically
accomplished via a thermistor, and such devices are known
as enzyme thermistors. Their high sensitivity to thermal
changes makes thermistors ideal for such applications.
Unlike other transducers, thermal biosensors do not need
frequent recalibration and are insensitive to the optical and
electrochemical properties of the sample.
Common applications of this type of biosensor include the
detection of pesticides and pathogenic bacteria.
RESONANT BIOSENSORS
It Utilize crystals which undergo an elastic deformation
when an electrical potential is applied to them.(Alternating
potential (A.C.) produces a standing wave in the crystal at
a characteristic frequency.)
In this type of biosensor, an acoustic wave transducer is
coupled with an antibody (bio-element).
When the analyte molecule (or antigen) gets attached to
the membrane, the mass of the membrane changes. The
resulting change in the mass subsequently changes the
resonant frequency of the transducer. This frequency
change is then measured.
ION-SENSITIVE BIOSENSORS
These are semiconductor FETs having an ion-sensitive
surface.
The surface electrical potential changes when the ions and
the semiconductor interact.(This change in the potential
can be subsequently measured.)
The Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistor (ISFET) can be
constructed by covering the sensor electrode with a
polymer layer. This polymer layer is selectively permeable
to analyte ions. The ions diffuse through the polymer layer
and in turn cause a change in the FET surface potential.
This type of biosensor is also called an ENFET (Enzyme
Field Effect Transistor) and is primarily used for pH
detection.
GLUCOSE BIOSENSORS
Glucose reacts with glucose
oxidase(GOD) to form gluconic
acid. Two electrons & two
protons are also produced.
Glucose mediator reacts with
surrounding oxygen to form
H2O2 and GOD.
Now this GOD can reacts with
more glucose.
Higher the glucose content,
higher the oxygen consumption.
Glucose content can be detected
by Pt-electrode.
APPLICATIONS OF BIOSENSORS
In food industry, biosensors are used to monitor the freshness of
food.
Drug discovery and evaluation of biological activity of new
compounds.
Potentiometric biosensors are intended primarily for monitoring
levels of carbon dioxide, ammonia, and other gases dissolved in
blood and other liquids.
Environmental applications e.g. the detection of pesticides and
river water contaminants.
continue…
APPLICATIONS OF BIOSENSORS
Determination of drug residues in food, such as antibiotics
and growth promoters.
Glucose monitoring in diabetes patients.
Analytical measurement of folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12
and pantothenic acid.
Enzyme-based biosensors are used for continuous
monitoring of compounds such as methanol, acetonitrile,
phenolics in process streams, effluents and groundwater.
CONCLUSION
As the potential threat of bioterrorism increases, there is great
need for a tool that can quickly, reliably and accurately detect
contaminating bio-agents in the atmosphere.
Biosensors can essentially serve as low-cost and highly
efficient devices for this purpose in addition to being used in
other day-to-day applications.
Biosensors are known as: immunosensors, optrodes, chemical
canaries, resonant mirrors, glucometers biochips,
biocomputers, and so on.
REFERENCES
