Biosensors

The field of biosensors was born out of the collaboration between scientists from a variety of different disciplines: physicists, chemists, biologists, electronic engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians and engineers. All of these scientists should be able to consult this work without any difficulty and find information to complement their original training. This tutorial introduction should be a useful reference in everyday work. Sensors are studied and described and the techniques for immobilizing enzymes, cofactors, mediators, micro-organisms, immunoagents and organelles are all outlined. The fundamental principles of the subject are reviewed and the practical aspects of design and fabrication for each of the major classes of biosensor are discussed. A significant part of the text is devoted to enzyme sensors, as these have been extensively studied and are now commercially available. Principle applications such as medical instrumentation and environmental monitoring are also explored with attention to the economics of the technology.