BIOSENSORS

Parita Savla 60013115020

Kavya Subramanian 60013115027

OVERVIEW

Introduction
Components
Principle and working
Types of biosensors
Biosensor array
Applications

BIOSENSORS

INTRODUCTION

A sensor that integrates a

biological element with a
physiochemical transducer to
produce an electronic signal
proportional to a single analyte
which is then conveyed to a
detector

BIOSENSORS

COMPONENTS

Sensitive biological element

Analyte.
Transducer or the detector element.
Electronic or signal processor / Amplifier

BIOSENSORS

SENSITIVE BIOLOGICAL ELEMENT

Biological material is tissue, cell receptor, enzymes, antibodies, nucleic
acid etc.
Functions:
It specifically recognizes the analyte .
Interacts with it in such a manner , which produces some physical
change detectable by the transducer.

ANALYTE
An analyte is a compound whose concentration is to be determined by the
biosensor.
The nature of interaction between the analyte and the biological material
used, the biosensor may be of two types
CATALYTIC BIOSENSOR.
AFFINITY BIOSENSOR.

TRANSDUCER OR DETECTOR
ELEMENT
Transducer detects & measures this change and converts it into an
electrical signal.
This signal is necessarily very small, and is amplified by an amplifier
before it is fed into the microprocessor.
The signal is then processed and interpreted.

WORKING OF A BIOSENSOR

BIOSENSORS

TYPES OF BIOSENSOR, AND THE BIOLOGICAL

MATERIALS USED

CALORIMETRIC BIOSENSORS
Schematic diagram of a calorimetric
biosensor. The sample stream (a) passes
through the outer insulated box (b) to
the heat exchanger (c) within an
aluminium block (d). From there, it flows
past the reference thermistor (e) and into
the packed bed bioreactor containing the
biocatalyst, where the reaction occurs. The
change in temperature is determined by
the thermistor (g) and the solution passed
to waste (h). External electronics (l)
determines the difference in the resistance,
and hence temperature, between the
thermistors.

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AMPEROMETRIC BIOSENSORS

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POTENTIOMETRIC BIOSENSORS
Schematic diagram showing
an enzyme-based
potentiometric biosensor for
urea. A solution of the enzyme
urease is trapped between a
dialysis membrane and a gas
permeable membrane. Urea
diffuses across the dialysis
membrane and reacts with
urease, producing NH3 that
diffuses across the gas
permeable membrane. The
resulting change in the internal
solutions pH is measured with
the pH electrode.
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CONDUCTOMETRIC BIOSENSORS

Detection is based on change in electrical conductivity of a solution(due to

ion concentration changes).

Mainly used for the determination of urea.

(NH2)2CO + 3H2O

2NH4++ HCO3- + OH-

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OPTICAL BIOSENSORS

Two basic principles of detection:

Colorimetric for colour: Measures change in light adsorption as the
reactants get converted to products. Mainly used for whole blood
monitoring.
Peroxidase Chromogen (2H) + H2O2 ---> Dye + 2H2O
Photometric for light intensity: Photon output for a luminescent or
fluorescent process can be detected with photomultiplier tubes or
photodiode systems.

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PIEZOELECTRIC BIOSENSORS

These sensors are used to measure a change in mass.

Detects a change in resonant frequency proportional to the mass of

absorbed material.

Sensor is made of quartz.

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DETECTION BY CANTILEVER

Cantilevers (springboard) are nanomechanical biosensors microfabricated

with silicon technology. Their sizes range in um or nm.
Have high intrinsic flexibility.
Each cantilever incorporates a piezoresistor in a wheatstone bridge
configuration.
Pair of cantilevers ( one as reference) is used and difference is taken to
obtain output signal.

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Surface stress change detection

Microcantilever technology: a) with

immobilised protein for a specific bacterium b)
bending after adsorption of bacteria to the
protein
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Mass change detection

Shift in resonant frequency with increasing number of virus

particles.

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Detection by cantilever

Change in the resonant frequency: AcV1 antibody (green) and baculovirus particles (red).

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SENSING METHODS

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BIOSENSOR ARRAYS

Dense, two-dimensional grid of biosensors

Most microarrays consist of a Cartesian grid of sensors

Advantages

Easier to fabricate
Dimensions can be standardised
Facilitates efficient detection of analytes
Facilitates efficient measurement of analytes

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FABRICATION OF BIOSENSOR ARRAYS

2D array on a solid substrate

Passive -usually a glass slide or silicon thin-film cell(e.g. silicon or

glass)
Active- integrated electronics or micromechanical devices

Surface chemistry is used to covalently bind the sensor molecules to the

substrate medium.

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TYPES OF BIOSENSOR ARRAYS

Types of microarrays include:

DNA microarrays, such as cDNA microarrays, oligonucleotide microarrays
and SNP microarrays
MM Chips, for surveillance of microRNA populations
Protein microarrays- to determine the presence of proteins in biological
samples, e.g. blood.
Tissue microarrays
Cellular microarrays (also called transfection microarrays)
Chemical compound microarrays
Antibody microarrays
Carbohydrate arrays (glycoarrays)

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PROTEIN ARRAY APPLICATIONS

Fluorescence detection:
Fluorescence is used as a nondestructive way of tracking for the
analysis of biological molecules
This is done using the fluorescent
emission at a specific frequency

Endothelial cells under the microscope with three separate

channels marking specific cellular components
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FLUORESCENCE DETECTION
Source
230 to
340nm
UV

Excitation Filter Photon

emission

Emission
Spectrum

Emission Filter

Fluorescence
Detection

Source: A. Agah,.Design requirements for integrated biosensor arrays

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Source: A. Agah,.Design
requirements for integrated biosensor
arrays

LIMITATIONS OF BIOSENSOR ARRAYS

Limited number of analytes can be detected

Protein detection is difficult

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APPLICATIONS

DNA Sensors: Genetic and disease monitoring

Immunosensors: HIV, Hepatitis, other viral disease, drug testing
Point-of-care sensors: blood, urine, electrolytes, gases, steroids, drugs,
hormones, proteins
Enzyme sensors for diabetics and drug testing
Measurement of Metabolites: measurements of blood gases, ions and
metabolites
Diagnosis of diabetes
Insulin Therapy

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IMPLANTABLE DEVICES

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THANK YOU

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