BIOSENSOR
(General principles and applications)
Represent by: Sankar Jana
M.Sc. Biotechnology
Institute Of Genetic Engineering
Introduction to Biosensors
“Biosensor”--Any device that uses specific biochemical
reactions to detect chemical compounds in biological samples
Biosensor = bio receptor + transducer
The bio receptor is a biomolecule that recognizes the target analyzed whereas
the transducer converts the recognition event into a measurable signal
 Enzyme is a Bio receptor
 Requirements for Sensors
A biosensor is an
analytical device
which is used to
determine the
presence and
concentration of a
specific substance in a
biological analyses
Father of the Biosensor
A biosensor is a self-contained integrated
device that is capable of providing specific
Quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical
Information using a biological recognition
Element which is in direct spatial contact
With a transduction element (IUPAC, 1996)
Definition
A sensor that integrates a biological element
With a physiochemical transducer to produce
An electronic signal proportional to a single
Analytic which is then conveyed to a detector
Professor Leland C
Clark Jnr1918–2005
Graph of a search on the term “biosensor” during the
period 1980 to 2011, using the Web of Knowledge
History of Biosensors
1975
First commercial biosensor (yellow springs instruments glucose biosensor)
1976
First microbe based biosensor, First immunosensor
1980
First fiber optic pH sensor for in vivo blood gases(Peterson)
1982
First fiber optic-based biosensor for glucose
1983
First surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor
1984
First mediated amperometric biosensor: ferrocene used with glucose
oxidase for the detection of glucose
1987
Launch of the Medicine ExacTech™ blood glucose biosensor
1990
Launch of the Pharmacia BIA Core SPR-based biosensor system
1992
i-STAT launches hand-held blood analyzer
1996
Launching of Glucocard
1998
Launch of Life Scan Fast Take blood glucose biosensor
1998
Merger of Roche and Boehringer Mannheim to form Roche Diagnostics
2001
Life Scan purchases Inverness Medical's glucose testing business for
1.3billion
Current BioNMES, Quantum dots, Nanoparticles, Nano cantilever, Nanowire and
Nanotube
Parts of a biosensor
(i) Bio recognition elements, which
recognize the substance of enzyme,
nucleic acid & antibodies
(ii) Transducer, which converts the biorecognition event into a measurable signal
(iii) a signal processing system, which
converts the signal into a workable form.
 Biosensors refer to intact, living microbial
cells - genetically engineered to produce
a measurable signal in response to a
specific chemical or physical agent in
their environment
Desired molecule
Bio receptor
Transducer
Signal
Processing
Display
Biosensor
Bio sample
Recognition
Transduction
Signal Processing
Basic Characteristics of a Biosensor
Analyte
LINEARITY:
Maximum linear value of the sensor calibration curve. Linearity of the
sensor must be high for the detection of high substrate concentration.
SENSITIVITY:
The value of the electrode response per
substrate concentration.
Response
SELECTIVITY:
Interference of chemicals must be
minimized for obtaining the correct result.
RESPONSE TIME:
The necessary time for having 95% of
Analysis Signal
the response.
Detection
Sample handling/
preparation
Principle of Biosensor
Promoter gene in a normal bacterial cell is linked to other genes that
are then likewise transcribed and then translated into proteins that
help the cell in either combating or adapting to the agent to which it
has been exposed
 Anatomy of biorepoter
organism. Up on exposure to a
specific analyte.
 The promoter/reporter gene
complex is transcribed into
messenger RNA (mRNA)
 Then translated into a reporter
protein that is ultimately
responsible for generating a
signal
Basic components of sensor system
Sample:- Material containing targeted pathogen ( air, water, food, blood, vitamin, protein etc.)
Trigger/cue:- First to detect any change in environment as is thee continuous monitoring aspect
Of a sensor system.
Cue:- Secondary detector combined with trigger to help defend against false positives/negatives
Collector:- Increase the amount of agent since only small amount is needed to cause illness,
while more is needed to identify
Detector:-Determines if substance is biological or non biological has ability to categorize a
substance as bacteria, virus etc.
Identifier:-Identifies agent based on preselected characteristics are not in preselected database
Targate analyte
Target analyze is same with biological element want to detect..
It can be bacteria, molecule Protein, DNA, Glucose, Vitamin,
Sugar, metal ion
Protein
DNA
Bacteria
Glucose
Sample handling
•(Micro) fluidics
•Concentration (increase/decrease)
•Filtration/selection
Recognition
Antigen
Complementary
DNA
Other:
enzyme/substrate
PNA/DNA or
PNA/RNA
Antibody
DNA
Detection/Recognition
Fab
Competitive binding
Active site
Fc
Antibody
Enzyme
enzyme/substrate;
– antigen/antibody;
– DNA/DNA;
– DNA/transcription activator;
– mRNA/DNA;
– PNA/DNA or PNA/RNA;
– microorganism/substrate;
Membrane receptors
Cell
Polymer/Hydrogel
Avoiding false signals
SIGNAL
Specific recognition
Specific recognition
False specific recognition
Complementary
DNA
PROTEIN
Non specific signal
Common signaling principles
Optical
Electrical
Mass
(Fluoresence, Scanometric)
(Voltammetry, Potentiometry,
conductivity)
(QCM,Piezoelectric)
HIGH SENSITIVITY
HIGH SELECTIVITY
Improving SIGNAL....
AMPLIFICATION
SECONDARY
SIGNAL
AMPLIFIER
Magnectic bead,
fluorecent dye,
enzyme etc
Signal LOW
Signal HIGH
Improving SIGNAL....
AMPLIFICATION
AMPLIFICATION
PCR
ELISA
(Immunoblothing)
Types of Biosensors
By analyses mode
Types of biological
Name of the
recognition elements Biosensor
Enzymes
Enzyme electrode
Proteins
Protein sensor
Antibodies
Immunosensor
DNA
DNA sensor
Microbial cells
Microbial sensor
By detection mode
Types of
Transducers
Measured Property
Electrochemical Potentiometric, Amperometric, Volta metric
Electrical
Surface Conductivity, Electrolyte conductivity
Optical
Fluorescence, Adsorption, Reflection
Mass sensitive
Rezones frequency of piezocrytals
Thermal
Heat of reaction, Heat of adsorption
Example of biosensors
 A pregnant woman has the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
(HCG) in her urine.
 Monoclonal antibodies to HCG have been produced. These have been
attached to enzymes which can later interact with a dye molecule and
produce a colour change
Pregnancy test
Bacterial & Transgenic Fish biosensor
Several bacterial biosensor for testing
various heavy metal like Cd, Ar etc
Bacterial biosensors for benzene
,toulene and xylene etc, have been
constructed ,characterized and field
tested on contaminated water and soil
E.g, SOS promoter from E.coli
Using estrogen –inducible and
stress responsive promoter linked
to fluorescent reporter gene, Gong
zhiyuan and his team from national
university of Singapore have
generated transgenic zebra fish
Glucose biosensor test strips
Dry coating of GO + Fc
e’s
• Most sensors use enzyme
called glucose oxidase (GO)
Meter
• Most sensors are
Read glucose
constructed on electrodes,
and use a
mediator to carry electrons
from enzyme to GO, Fc =
mediator, ferrocene, an iron
complex
electrodes
Patient adds drop of blood,
then inserts slide into meter
Patient reads glucose level on meter
These reactions occur in the sensor
Fc
Fc+ + e- (measured)
GOR + 2 Fc + --> GOox + 2 Fc
GOox + glucose --> GOR + gluconolactone
The first and the most widespreadly used commercial biosensor:
the blood glucose biosensor – developed by Leland C. Clark in 1962
Glucose monitoring device (for
diabetes patients
Global Biosensor Market & Applications
Medical applications include
the detection of cancer and
disease biomarkers, the use
of optical techniques for early
diagnosis and monitoring of
disease and electronic noses
for the detection of volatiles in
breath consistent with
particular diseases.
Environmental applications
include sensors for the
determination of pathogens,
heavy metals, bio-toxins and
organophosphate pesticides,
and includes sensors which
can operate in extreme
environments.
Food applications focus our
research on detecting specific
substances in the food we eat
Bio Defense Sniffer STAR is a
Nano-enabled chemical
sensor integrated into a micro
unmanned aerial
vehicle
Application of Biosensor
Biological Applications
 DNA Sensors; Genetic monitoring, disease
 Immunosensors; HIV, Hepatitis,other viral
disease, drug testing, environmental monitoring…
Food quality
 Cell-based Sensors; functional sensors, drug testing…
 Point-of-care sensors; blood, urine, electrolytes,
gases, steroids,drugs, hormones, proteins, other…
 Bacteria Sensors; (E-coli, streptococcus, other): food
industry, medicine, environmental, other.
 Enzyme sensors; diabetics, drug testing, other.
In vivo monitoring
Environmental Applications
 Detection of environmental
pollution and toxicity
 Agricultural monitoring
 Ground water screening
Blood monitoring
 Ocean monitoring
Water quality
Future Application
Cancer Monitoring
 Nano biosensors play a very
important role for early cancer
detection in body fluids
 The sensor is coated with a cancerspecific antibody or other
biorecognation ligands. The capture
of a cancer cell or a target protein
yields electrical, optical or
mechanical signal for detection.
[Professor Calum McNeil detection
of cancer proteins that cause MRSA]
Identification of Biomarkers
↓
Validation of Cancer Biomarkers
↓
Cancer Biomarkers
↓
Ligands / Probes Developments
↓
Cancer Diagnostics Biosensor ← Detector
↓
Point of Care Cancer Diagnostics
Conclusions
According to a new market report
published by Transparency Market
Research “Biosensors Market - Global
Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth,
Trends and Forecast, 2012 - 2018,” in
2011, the global biosensors market was
valued at USD 9.9 billion and it is expected
to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2012 to Biosensors Market (Electrochemical, Optical,
Piezoelectric & Thermistor) - Global Industry Analysis,
2018 to reach a market of USD 18.9 billion Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2012 - 2018
by 2018
 Inputs are required from: Biology, Chemistry,
Material Science, Electronics & Physics
 This multidisciplinary process has
accelerated during the past 5 years
 Biomaterial stability has become a reality
 The large scale manufacture of repeatable
sensors for a range of analytes is now
almost feasible
 More must still be done to realize the
potential of biosensors (will be market led)
References
 Richard, Michael Graham. "Say Hello to My Little Friend: Living
Bacteria Biosensors to Detect Pollution " TreeHugger. Science and
Technology, 17 Sept. 2008. Web. 01 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/bacteria-biosensorsdetecting-pollution-toxins.php
 Cullum, B.(2000). The development of optical nanosensors for
biological measurements. Trends in Biotechnology, Vol 18,388-393.
 Vo-Dihn, T.(2002).Nanobiosensors: Probing the sanctuary of individual
living cells. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Supplement, Vol. 39, 154161
 Pathak, P. et al.(2007). Cancer Research - Nanoparticles,
nanobiosensors and their use in cancer research. Journal of
Nanotechnology Online, Vol.3, 1-14.
 Rogers, K.(2006). Recent advances in biosensor techniques for
environmental monitoring. Analitica Chimica Acta. Vol. 568(1-2), 599624.
 Li, C. (2005).Complementary Detection of Prostate-Specific Antigen
Using In2O3 Nanowires and Carbon Nanotubes. Journal of the
American Chemical Society, Vol.127(36), 12484-12485
I would like to thank our Principal sir
Dr. Amit Chakrabarty & our VicePrincipal madam Dr. Sudipa Chakrabarty
and also our respected faculties Dr.
Madhumita j.Mukhopadhay, Dr. Paramita
G.Bhattacharjee & Dr.A.Basak of our
institution and my classmates for helping
me to complete this project
…